HERSHEY, Pa. ­­– Cade Helmer scored his first goal of the season for the Lebanon Valley College Men's Ice Hockey team, as the program delivered a valiant effort in a 3-1 defeat against Neumann University on Friday, Nov. 8 at Hersheypark Arena. 

The Dutchmen opened the scoring early in the game, taking a 1-0 lead over the Knights at the 3:38 mark. The program went ahead on a goal by Helmer, courtesy of assists by Brenden Yingling and Ethan Hoover. Neumann followed this with shots on goal at the 4:31 and 6:33 marks, and both resulted in saves by LVC goaltender Jadon Lee. Lebanon Valley continued to send shots toward the net as the opening frame progressed, as the team registered four shots on goal during a power play that started in the seventh minute. Over a stretch of 28 seconds, Artem Mikhaylov, Cameron Croteau, Dylan Miller, and Cade Freer each tallied attempts that were saved.

Neumann then got on the board 9:09 into the first period, tying things up at 1-1 on a goal by Tyler Kennedy. Lee continued to face shots as the frame went on, and he made three saves within 26 seconds in the 11^thminute. The Knights later found the net again at the 12:43 mark, taking a 2-1 advantage on a goal by Max Donohoe. The Flying Dutchmen followed this by continuing to generate scoring chances, as Tanner Tolliver took a shot that was saved 15:53 into the first and Cameron Croteau had a try that was saved at the 17:27 mark. The frame was capped off by Neumann tallying shots on goal during a power play at the 18:20 and 19:15 marks, but Lee was there to make two more saves.

Lee kept working to limit the opposition as the contest went into the second period, as the goalie tallied a stop 28 seconds into the frame before another at the 2:17 mark. Lebanon Valley countered with a shot on goal by Haralds Jirgens during a power play, which was saved at the 3:36 mark. The Knights later attempted two shots within six seconds in the seventh minute, and Mac Diver made blocks on each try. This was followed by Lee logging a couple more saves for LVC at the 6:58 and 7:02 marks. 

Neumann added another point 8:40 into the second period, going up 3-1 on a goal by Luke Croucher. The Knights then sent two more shots toward the net at the 11:50 and 12:06 marks, and Lee came through for Lebanon Valley with a pair of saves. The Dutchmen responded with some offensive opportunities, as Hoover took a shot that was saved on a power play 12:32 into the second before Haralds Jirgens tallied a try that was saved while Neumann was on a power play at the 15:19 mark. Back on the defensive end, Lee continued to battle through the rest of the frame by making six saves in the remaining minutes. 

Lebanon Valley took the first shot on goal of the third period, as Helmer sent a puck toward the net that was saved 1:04 into the frame. Hoover and Helmer later each recorded shots that were saved, within 17 seconds in the third minute. The Dutchmen followed this with a key defensive stretch, in which Lee made a save at the 3:48 mark, Reece McDonald blocked a shot at the 3:54 mark, and the goalie made another stop 4:07 into the third. LVC also kept sending shots toward the net as the period went on, as Yingling, Darion Benchich, and Jordan Stear each registered attempts within 13 seconds in the seventh minute. 

The Flying Dutchmen continued to battle defensively during the third as well, as Lee came through with important stops at the 10:58 and 11:02 marks before Ian Lindberg blocked a shot 11:08 into the period. Lee also registered two saves within three seconds in the 15^th minute. Offensively, Lebanon Valley kept working to generate opportunities as the end of the game approached, as Yingling took a shot that was saved at the 18:33 mark before Stear logged a shot with 56 seconds left. Ultimately, Neumann preserved its 3-1 lead through the end of play. 

Inside the Box Score

• Helmer netted his first goal of the season during the first period. The junior also led LVC with five shots on goal. 
• Yingling and Hoover were credited with the assists on Helmer's goal. 
• Lebanon Valley took 28 shots during the contest. 
• Yingling tallied four shots on goal while Stear also had three attempts.
• Lee made a season-high 41 saves. 
• The Dutchmen blocked a total of 18 shots on the defensive end. 
• Diver had a game-high six blocked shots.
• Lindberg also had three blocks, while Miller blocked a pair of shots for Lebanon Valley as well. 
• The Flying Dutchmen had a 40-33 advantage in faceoff victories. 
• Croteau led the team with a game-high 11 faceoff wins, while Hoover also won 10. 

Up Next
The Dutchmen will return to action tomorrow at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 9, as the program will host the Knights again at Hersheypark Arena. 

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