HERSHEY, Pa. ­­– Harris Blackwood scored a key goal in the second period and made the shot that sealed the Lebanon Valley College Men's Ice Hockey team's 1-0 shootout victory over Neumann University, as the programs battled to a 2-2 tie in overtime on Saturday, Nov. 9 at Hersheypark Arena. The shootout win earned the Flying Dutchmen an extra point in the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) standings. 

The Dutchmen (1-2-1, 0-1-1 MAC) took the first shot on goal of the night, as Haralds Jirgens tallied an attempt that was saved 1:16 into the first period. The Knights countered with a shot on goal at the 1:45 mark, but goaltender Chris Branch was there to make the save for LVC. The goalie also came through with stops at the 3:09 and 3:22 marks. Lebanon Valley continued to send the puck toward the net as the frame went on, as Cade Freer took a shot that was saved 5:14 into the first before Dylan Gutierrez's try was saved 15 seconds later. 

Branch also continued to produce as the opening period went on, registering saves at the 8:58 and 9:19 marks. The Dutchmen then opened the scoring 12:38 into the first, taking a 1-0 lead over the Knights. The program went ahead on a power-play goal by Jordan Stear, courtesy of assists by Freer and Dylan Miller. Neumann responded with shots on goal at the 13:37, 13:43, 13:55, and 14:18 marks, and Branch posted saves on each try. The goaltender logged another important stop 17:09 into the frame. The Knights later got on the board with 23 seconds left in the first, tying things up at 1-1 on a power-play goal by Tyler Inlow. 

Neumann attempted a pair of shots within the first two minutes of the second period, but Lebanon Valley produced defensively with a block by Mac Diver 33 seconds in before a block by Jirgens at the 1:45 mark. Offensively, Diver and Ian Lindberg each took a shot on goal for LVC that was saved within six seconds in the fourth minute. Branch later added a couple more saves on the defensive end, making stops at the 4:10 and 4:50 marks. The Dutchmen then found the net again 8:29 into the second, taking a 2-1 advantage. The squad went up by a goal when Blackwood sent a shot into the net, following an assist by Jack Foote. 

The Knights also worked to create scoring chances as the second frame rolled on, but Branch kept limiting the opposition with more saves at the 10:17, 11:43, 11:57, and 12:16 marks. The Flying Dutchmen kept registering shots on goal as well, as Cade Helmer had an attempt that was saved 16:05 into the second. Neumann then evened the score at 2-2 at the 16:42 mark, tying the game on a goal by Zack Smith. The Knights later sent a pair of shots toward the net within nine seconds in the last minute of the second, and Branch came through with a pair of key saves. 

The Dutchmen were aggressive offensively early in the third period, taking three shots on goal within the first 2:47. Ethan Hoover contributed to these efforts, sending a pair of shots toward the net that were saved. Lebanon Valley's defense kept the opposition from taking a shot on goal in the period until Branch made stops at the 9:27 and 9:48 marks. LVC also kept working to generate offensive opportunities as the third progressed, as Hoover took a shot that was saved 12:47 into the period before Stear's try that was saved at the 13:46 mark. Back on the defensive end, Branch kept Neumann scoreless through the remainder of the period by making four more saves to send the contest to overtime. 

The Dutchmen battled defensively early in the overtime period, as Reece McDonald blocked a shot by the Knights 54 seconds in before Diver had a block at the 1:04 mark. LVC's offense countered with a shot by Jirgens that was saved at the 1:41 mark and an attempt by Troy Andrews that was saved 1:55 into the frame. Branch later came through with a clutch save at the 2:09 mark before Stear blocked a shot attempt 3:08 into the period. Helmer then took a shot for LVC that was saved with 32 seconds to go, prompting the squads to finish in a 2-2 tie at the end of overtime. 

During the shootout, Branch was stellar and kept Neumann from making its four shot attempts. The Dutchmen delivered a valiant effort with their shots, but ultimately, the attempts by Brenden Yingling, Helmer, and Hoover were all stopped. Lebanon Valley then turned to Blackwood for its fourth try of the shootout, and the senior sent his shot past the goalie to secure the program's 1-0 shootout victory. 

Inside the Box Score

• Blackwood netted his first goal of the year and made the shot that secured Lebanon Valley's shootout victory. The senior also tallied eight faceoff wins. 
• Stear scored his first goal of the season. Defensively, the senior blocked three shots. 
• Freer dished out an assist on Stear's goal.
• Miller also tallied his first assist of the year on Stear's goal. 
• Foote assisted Blackwood's goal, marking his first career point.  
• Lebanon Valley recorded 27 shots during the contest. 
• Hoover led LVC with 11 faceoff victories and five shots. 
• Branch made 31 saves for LVC.
• The Flying Dutchmen blocked 22 shots defensively. 
• Jirgens, Lindberg, and Diver tied a game-high five blocks. 
• Darion Benchich also blocked a pair of shots. 

Up Next
Lebanon Valley will return to action at 5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 15, as the program will travel to take on Wilkes University at the Toyota SportsPlex in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. This will be the first matchup of the two-game weekend series between the Dutchmen and the Colonels. 

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