WILKES-BARRE, Pa. ­­– Dylan Miller and Harris Blackwood netted goals for the Lebanon Valley College Men's Ice Hockey team, as the program dropped a hard-fought 5-2 contest to Wilkes University on Friday, Nov. 15 at the Toyota SportsPlex. Cade Helmer, Cade Freer, and Aidan Bright also contributed to LVC's offensive efforts, dishing out assists.

The Colonels opened the scoring 20 seconds into the game, taking a 1-0 lead on a goal by Leyton Pettypiece. The Dutchmen countered with a shot on goal by Blake Dustin that was saved at the 1:12 mark. Wilkes then went on a power play and Lebanon Valley's defense responded with Ian Lindberg blocking a shot 2:48 into the first period before goaltender Chris Branch made a save at the 3:14 mark. Later in the frame, Branch recorded important stops at the 6:53 and 7:04 marks. LVC's offense followed this with a shot on goal by Jordan Stear that was saved 7:19 into the period.

Wilkes scored again 8:15 into the first, taking a 2-0 advantage on another goal by Pettypiece. The Colonels sent more shots toward the net as the frame progressed, but Branch posted saves for the Flying Dutchmen on attempts at the 8:59 and 9:51 marks. Lebanon Valley also worked to generate offensive opportunities as the opening period progressed, as Dylan Gutierrez took a shot that was saved 10:31 into the first before Stear and Mac Diver each registered shots on goal within a 17-second stretch that began near the end of the 12^th minute.

The Dutchmen got on the board 16:27 into the first period, narrowing the deficit to 2-1. Miller got the offense rolling with a shot into the net, following an assist by Helmer. Wilkes followed this with a shot on goal at the 17:41 mark, which resulted in a stop by Branch. Lebanon Valley then evened the score with 1:15 remaining in the first, making it a 2-2 contest. The program tied things up on a goal by Blackwood, courtesy of assists by Freer and Bright.

Branch faced a shot just 1:25 into the second period and made the save. LVC created a scoring chance early in the frame as well, as Dustin took a shot that was saved 3:06 into the second. Defensively, the program kept working to limit the opposition with a pair of blocks by Diver within 13 seconds in the fifth minute. The Colonels then found the net again at the 4:56 mark, going ahead 3-2 on a power-play goal by Nick Swain. Lebanon Valley also continued to tally shots as the period progressed, as Troy Andrews registered an attempt that was saved 6:31 into the second before Darion Benchich's try was saved 28 seconds later. Stear and Reece McDonald later took a pair of shots that were saved within 26 seconds in the 10^th minute.

Wilkes put a shot on goal 10:48 into period two, but Branch was there to make the stop for LVC. The Colonels then tacked on another at the 12:00 mark, advancing the score to 4-2 on a goal by Patrick Roginski. The Dutchmen later created some scoring chances, recording four shots on goal within a period of 1:03 that started in the 14^th minute. During this stretch, Helmer, Freer, Cameron Croteau, and Gutierrez each took shots that were saved. Branch also worked to limit the opposition as the second went on, logging four more saves in the remaining minutes of the period. Lebanon Valley took a couple more shots before the end of the frame as well, as Haralds Jirgens and Benchich each tallied attempts that were saved within four seconds in the last minute.

Branch faced several shots early in the third period, making eight saves during the first 3:40. The goaltender recorded five of these stops in the third minute, including saves at the 2:40 and 2:46 marks. The Flying Dutchmen then worked to create some scoring chances, putting four shots on goal during a power play that began in the sixth minute. During this stretch, Croteau, Stear, Gutierrez, and Helmer each took shots that were saved. Branch continued to battle as the period progressed as well, logging saves at the 10:04 and 10:20 marks.

Lebanon Valley also kept sending the puck toward the net as the third frame went on, as Ethan Hoover registered an attempt that was saved at the 13:21 mark before Blackwood's shot was saved at the 15:39 mark. This was followed by Branch making a save on a shot from Wilkes 16:56 into the period. The Colonels then added a tally at the 17:40 mark on another goal by Swain, prompting the final score to be 5-2.

Inside the Box Score

• Miller found the net for the second time this season.
• Blackwood also scored his second goal of the year.
• Helmer dished out the assist on Miller's goal.
• Freer assisted Blackwood's goal.
• Bright tallied his first career point with an assist on Blackwood's goal. 
• Lebanon Valley outshot Wilkes 36-34.
• Benchich led the team with five shots on goal and logged a pair of blocks on the defensive end.
• Gutierrez, Croteau, and Blackwood also each had four shots on goal.
• Branch made 29 saves for the Dutchmen.
• Defensively, LVC blocked 11 shots.
• Diver posted a game-high four blocks.
• The Flying Dutchmen had a 35-24 advantage in faceoff wins.
• Croteau, Blackwood, and Hoover tied for the team lead in faceoff victories, recording eight each.

Up Next
The Dutchmen will be back in action against the Colonels tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 16, as the programs will compete against each other again at the Toyota SportsPlex.

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