READING, Pa. ­­– Cameron Croteau netted a goal in overtime for the Lebanon Valley College Men's Ice Hockey team, sealing the program's 3-2 victory over Alvernia University on Saturday, Nov. 23 at Body Zone. Haralds Jirgens and Blake Dustin also scored important goals for the Flying Dutchmen during the win.  

The Dutchmen (2-4-1, 1-1-1 MAC) were productive defensively early in the contest, as goaltender Chris Branch saved a shot by the Golden Wolves (3-4-0, 2-3-0 MAC) just 52 seconds into the first period. Lebanon Valley's offense then took a shot on goal at the 2:05 mark, as Jordan Stear's attempt was saved. Alvernia countered with a try 2:16 into the frame, but Branch came through with another stop. The Dutchmen opened the scoring 4:41 into the first period, taking a 1-0 lead over the Golden Wolves. The program struck first on a goal by Jirgens, courtesy of assists by Cade Helmer and Ian Lindberg. 

Lebanon Valley later posted a key defensive stretch of 32 seconds during the seventh minute of the opening period, as Branch tallied a pair of saves while Mac Diver and Darion Benchich each blocked shot attempts. The goaltender also delivered important stops for LVC at the 7:14, 7:24, and 8:19 marks. Brenden Yingling contributed to the program's defensive efforts as well, blocking two shots within five seconds in the ninth minute. The Flying Dutchmen also continued to send the puck toward the net as the period progressed, as Croteau took a shot that was saved at the 12:28 mark before Cade Freer's try was saved 30 seconds later. Dylan Gutierrez also took a shot that was saved 14:05 into the first. 

Branch remained dominant as the first period went on, coming through with saves at the 15:51 and 16:04 marks. This was followed by Freer registering another shot on goal, which was saved 16:27 into the frame. Branch then closed out the first period by making three more saves in the remaining minutes, including two stops within 13 seconds in the 19^th minute. 

The programs traded shot attempts early in the second period, as each program put a shot on goal during the first minute. Alvernia later attempted shots at the 1:37 and 2:40 marks, which resulted in blocks for LVC by Harris Blackwood and Jirgens. Helmer then sent a puck toward the net that was saved 3:18 into the frame. On the defensive end, Branch kept producing for the Dutchmen by making saves at the 4:47 and 6:33 marks. Alvernia got on the scoreboard 7:48 into the second period, tying the game at 1-1 on a goal by Matthew Imbriano. 

Lebanon Valley also worked to generate offensive opportunities as the second period rolled on, as Freer and Benchich each took shots on goal that were saved within 31 seconds in the ninth minute. The Golden Wolves sent more shots toward the net as well, but Branch was there to come through with big stops at the 11:29, 11:38, 12:00, and 12:06 marks. Back on the offensive end, the Dutchmen responded with a try by Stear that was saved at the 12:33 mark before Yingling's shot was saved 58 seconds later.

Lebanon Valley found the net again 14:08 into the second, claiming a 2-1 advantage. The squad went back ahead on a goal by Dustin, following an assist by Benchich. Alvernia then answered right back with a goal by Justin Pare 34 seconds later, prompting the score to be even at 2-2. The Flying Dutchmen proceeded to keep battling offensively during the remainder of period two, as Ethan Hoover's shot on goal was saved at the 16:41 mark before Dylan Miller had a shot saved at the 18-minute mark.

LVC remained productive defensively when the third period got underway, as Diver blocked a pair of shots and Branch made another save within 21 seconds in the third minute. The goalie also delivered saves at the 3:08 and 5:25 marks before tallying four more stops in the seventh minute. Offensively, the Dutchmen also kept working to create scoring chances, as Croteau took a shot that went wide 9:47 into the frame. This was followed by Branch posting two more saves within three seconds in the 11^th minute. 

Branch later logged stops for Lebanon Valley at the 15:09 and 16:03 marks, maintaining the 2-2 tie. Croteau later created another scoring chance for the Flying Dutchmen, sending a shot wide 17:36 into the third period. Branch followed this by saving all three shots by the Golden Wolves that he faced in the 19^th minute. On the offensive end, Max Kontir registered a shot that went wide with just 45 seconds to go. Alvernia then took the last shot of the third, sending a shot off the post as time expired to send the game into overtime. 

The Golden Wolves attempted the first shot of overtime, but Branch came through with a big save 33 seconds into the period. The Dutchmen then scored just 46 seconds into the overtime frame, winning the contest 3-2. The program won the game on a clutch goal by Croteau after assists by Freer and Blackwood. 

Inside the Box Score

• Croteau scored his first goal of the season, which also marked the first game-winner of his career. 
• Jirgens found the net for the second time this season. 
• Dustin netted the first goal of his career, which marked his first career point as well. 
• Helmer and Lindberg assisted the goal by Jirgens. This was Lindberg's first assist of the campaign. 
• Benchich dished out his first assist of the year on Dustin's goal. 
• Freer and Blackwood were credited with assists on Croteau's game-winning goal in overtime. 
• Lebanon Valley put 20 shots on goal during the contest. 
• Freer led the team with three shots. 
• Branch made a season-high 41 saves for the Dutchmen. 
• Defensively, LVC blocked 15 shot attempts by Alvernia. 
• Diver registered a game-high four blocks.
• Yingling also blocked three attempts, while Blackwood had two blocks as well. 
• The Flying Dutchmen recorded 28 faceoff victories.
• Kontir led the team with nine faceoff wins. 

Up Next
The Dutchmen will be back in action at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 30, as the team will take on the Golden Wolves again at Body Zone in Reading, Pennsylvania.  

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