HERSHEY, Pa. ­­– The Lebanon Valley College Women's Ice Hockey team battled tough during its series opener against Alvernia University, as the program earned a point in the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) standings by tying the Golden Wolves 1-1 on Friday, Nov. 22, at Hersheypark Arena. During regulation, Leela Nemani netted a goal for LVC and Jess Dawe recorded an assist. Alvernia then won the shootout by a score of 1-0. 

The Dutchmen (5-0-1, 4-0-1 MAC) sent the puck toward the net a couple of times early in the first period, as Alexis Oukes took a shot that was saved at the 1:12 mark before Maeghan Howson's attempt was saved 17 seconds later. Lebanon Valley also created some scoring chances when Sky Campanile and Cheyenne Wilk each registered shots that were saved within 13 seconds in the fifth minute. The Flying Dutchmen then opened the scoring 5:21 into the first period, taking a 1-0 lead over the Golden Wolves (4-2-1, 2-2-1 MAC). The program got on the board with a goal by Nemani, courtesy of an assist by Dawe. 

Lebanon Valley's defense was also productive in the opening period, preventing the opposition from taking a shot for over seven minutes at the start. Alvernia attempted its first shot at the 7:36 mark, and goaltender Mia Frisoni was there to make the save for LVC. Laura Radford contributed to the program's defensive efforts as well, blocking a shot 11:05 into the game. The Golden Wolves then put three shots on goal within 10 seconds in the 12^th minute, which resulted in three more stops by Frisoni. 

The Dutchmen also continued to tally shots as the first period went on, as Nemani had an attempt that was saved at the 13:19 mark. Alvernia later took a shot 15:45 into the first, which was blocked by Erin Yorke. Wilk then logged a shot on goal for LVC that was saved 15:52 into the contest. Back on the defensive end, Frisoni remained dominant as the end of the period approached, recording saves at the 17:04, 18:39, and 19:17 marks. 

Lebanon Valley and Alvernia went back and forth defensively at the start of the second period, as neither squad took a shot on goal for over four minutes at the beginning. The Flying Dutchmen registered the first of the frame, as Yorke took a shot that was saved at the 4:13 mark. The Golden Wolves countered with a shot 4:48 into the second, which was saved by Frisoni. Alvernia then scored at the 5:54 mark, tying the game at 1-1 on a goal by Riley Hill. 

The programs continued to battle defensively as the second period progressed, keeping each other from taking a shot on goal for the next 5:18. Frisoni faced a shot at the 11:12 mark and came through with the save for Lebanon Valley. Alvernia later took another shot 15:44 into the second, and the goaltender delivered another important stop. The Dutchmen also kept receiving defensive contributions from several players as the frame went on, as Najla Hatem blocked a shot at the 17:48 mark before Norah McCauliffe had a block at the 18:39 mark. LVC then generated an offensive opportunity near the end of the period, as Campanile took a shot that was saved with 33 seconds left.

Frisoni registered more saves for the Flying Dutchmen when the third period got underway, making stops at the 3:59 and 4:46 marks. Lebanon Valley countered with a try by McCauliffe that was saved 6:15 into the third. Frisoni also continued to limit the opposition as the third went on, registering key saves 11:58 into the frame and at the 12:03 mark. 

Alvernia then went on a power play that began in the 13^th minute, but Frisoni responded with saves on attempts at the 13:02 and 13:40 marks. The Golden Wolves also started a power play in the 16^th minute, but the team's first attempt during this stretch was blocked by Tiffany Anderson 16:48 into the third period. Anderson made an impact offensively as well, taking a shot on goal for the Dutchmen that was saved at the 17:01 mark during a short-handed opportunity. 

Frisoni also kept her strong outing going as the end of the third approached, making a save at the 17:17 mark while Alvernia was still on the power play and tallying another 18:36 into the frame. Lebanon Valley logged the last shot of the period, as Wilk tallied a try that was saved with just 1:02 remaining. Ultimately, the programs remained tied 1-1 at the end of the third to send the game into overtime. 

The Golden Wolves attempted a shot just 24 seconds into overtime, but Yorke blocked the try for the Flying Dutchmen. Alvernia put a shot on goal at the 1:28 mark, but this resulted in a save by Frisoni. The goaltender then made a clutch stop 3:05 into the overtime period and tallied another at the 3:40 mark, maintaining the tie. The score was still even at 1-1 at the end of overtime, securing the tie and sending the teams into a shootout. 

The programs went back and forth through the shootout, as each team took eight shots. The goaltenders of both the Dutchmen and the Golden Wolves were dominant, as Frisoni and Juju Rodgers kept the opposition from scoring on the first seven shot attempts they faced. Lebanon Valley's offense also had strong shots during their shootout attempts, with Howson, Campanile, Yorke, Wilk, Anna Dale, Nemani, and Oukes registering the first seven tries. Alvernia then went ahead 1-0 in the shootout, as Gillian Evans made a shot. Anderson delivered a valiant effort with LVC's last shot, which deflected off the right post.

Inside the Box Score

• Lebanon Valley remains undefeated through its first six games, registering a 5-0-1 overall record thus far. 
• Nemani scored her second goal of the season. The first-year also tallied nine faceoff victories.
• Dawe dished out her first assist of the campaign on Nemani's goal. 
• Lebanon Valley took 17 shots on goal.
• Wilk and Campanile tied for the team lead in shots on goal with three each.
• Frisoni made 23 saves for the Dutchmen. 
• Defensively, LVC blocked eight shots.
• Yorke led the team with three blocked shots. 
• McCauliffe also blocked two shots.  
• Lebanon Valley had a 26-16 advantage in faceoff victories.
• Anderson posted a game-high 10 faceoff wins. 

Up Next
Lebanon Valley will return to action tomorrow, at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 23, as the program will host the Golden Wolves again at Hersheypark Arena. 

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