READING, Pa. ­­– Haralds Jirgens, Darion Benchich, and Cameron Croteau each netted goals for the Lebanon Valley College Men's Ice Hockey team in the first period, fueling the program's big 4-0 victory over Alvernia University on Saturday, Nov. 30 at Body Zone. Brenden Yingling was also a key contributor to LVC's second consecutive win, tallying two points with a goal and an assist. 

The Golden Wolves (3-5-0, 2-4-0 MAC) took the first shot on goal of the night 1:09 into the first period, but goaltender Chris Branch made the save for the Dutchmen (3-4-1, 2-3-1 MAC). Lebanon Valley's offense also sent the puck toward the net early in the contest, as Max Kontir tallied an attempt that was saved at the 3:02 mark before Ethan Hoover took a shot that was saved 49 seconds later. LVC's defense was productive during the first as well, as Kontir blocked a shot at the 6:31 mark, and Branch made two saves within 12 seconds in the seventh minute when Alvernia was on a power play. This was followed by the goalie coming through with another stop 8:30 into the period.

Lebanon Valley kept working to generate scoring chances as the opening period progressed, as Mac Diver registered a shot on goal that was saved 9:28 into the frame. The Golden Wolves then recorded a pair of attempts, and Branch responded with saves for LVC at the 11:24 and 13:05 marks. The Flying Dutchmen countered with a try by Harris Blackwood, which was saved 13:54 into the first. 

The Dutchmen opened the scoring 15:31 into the first period, taking a 1-0 lead over the Golden Wolves. The squad got on the board when Jirgens sent a shot into the net, courtesy of an assist by Yingling. Lebanon Valley scored again at the 17:57 mark, going ahead 2-0. The program went up by two on a power-play goal by Benchich, following assists by Helmer and Hoover. The Flying Dutchmen continued their offensive showcase as the end of the opening period approached, as the team found the net to claim a 3-0 advantage with 35 seconds to go. LVC capped off the big frame on a goal by Croteau after assists by Troy Andrews and Cade Freer. 

Lebanon Valley's defense continued its strong effort when the second period got underway, as Branch made a save 54 seconds into the frame before Dylan Gutierrez blocked a shot at the 1:17 mark. The Dutchmen also sent shots toward the net during period two, as Jirgens tallied an attempt that was saved at the 1:37 mark, and Blake Dustin later had a shot that was saved 5:29 into the period. Back on the defensive end, Branch then came through with key saves at the 5:38, 8:03, and 8:06 marks.

The Flying Dutchmen also kept working to generate offensive opportunities as frame two went on, as Andrews put a shot on goal that was saved at the 8:27 mark before Kontir's attempt was saved 9:55 into the period. Branch kept delivering a strong performance as well, making saves at the 12:52 and 13:05 marks. LVC's defense remained dominant during a Golden Wolves power play that began in the 15^th minute, as Branch made two saves while both Jirgens and Diver tallied blocks. Branch followed this by stopping the last two shots on goal he faced in the second, making saves at the 18:13 and 19:25 marks. Andrews then closed out the period by blocking an attempt with 17 seconds to go. 

Alvernia created a scoring chance 39 seconds into the third period by taking a shot on goal, but Branch was there to make the save for Lebanon Valley. The Dutchmen also sent the puck toward the net early in the frame, as Dustin, Jordan Stear, and Freer each logged attempts that were saved in an 11-second stretch that began near the end of the second minute. Defensively, Diver blocked a shot for LVC at the 3:32 mark to help limit the opposition. The Dutchmen then tacked on another point 6:03 into the third period, extending their lead to 4-0. The team added an insurance tally on a power-play goal by Yingling, courtesy of assists by Branch and Stear.

The Golden Wolves countered with shots on goal at the 6:43, 6:47, 9:21, and 10:48 marks, and Branch made saves on each try to keep the opposition off the scoreboard. Lebanon Valley also had an important defensive stretch in the 15^th minute, where Jirgens blocked a shot, and Branch registered a pair of saves. The goaltender followed this with five more saves in the remaining minutes of the third period, securing LVC's 4-0 win. 

Inside the Box Score

• Yingling scored his first goal of the season and assisted the goal by Jirgens.
• Jirgens netted his third goal of the year, which was the first game-winner of his career.  
• Benchich recorded his first goal of the campaign.
• Croteau found the net for the second time this year.
• Helmer dished out his team-leading sixth assist of the season on Benchich's goal. 
• Hoover also tallied an assist on the goal by Benchich. 
• Andrews and Freer were credited with assists on Croteau's goal. 
• Stear logged an assist on Yingling's goal. 
• Branch made 34 saves and posted his first career shutout. The goaltender also registered his first career point with an assist on Yingling's goal. 
• Lebanon Valley took 24 shots on goal. 
• Yingling and Hoover tied for the team lead in shots on goal with three each. 
• LVC's defense blocked 13 shots during the contest.
• Gutierrez led the program with three blocked shots, which tied a game high.
• Jirgens, Andrews, and Diver also had two blocks each. 
• The Flying Dutchmen recorded 19 faceoff victories.
• Croteau, Reece McDonald, and Yingling tied for the team lead in faceoff wins with six each. 

Up Next
Lebanon Valley will return to action at 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6, when the program will host Arcadia University for the first of two contests next weekend at Hersheypark Arena. 

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