HERSHEY, Pa. ­­– Cade Helmer scored two goals for the Lebanon Valley College Men's Ice Hockey team, helping propel the program to a 3-1 victory over Arcadia University on Friday, Dec. 6 at Hersheypark Arena. The Flying Dutchmen also had eight players record points during their third consecutive win. 

The Dutchmen (4-4-1, 3-3-1 MAC) and the Knights (4-4-2, 3-3-2 MAC) went back and forth defensively early, limiting each other during the first period. Arcadia took the first shot on goal of the night at the 1:17 mark, and goaltender Jadon Lee was there to make the save for LVC. Lebanon Valley also worked to generate offensive opportunities, putting six shots on goal within the first 4:33. Ethan Hoover and Helmer contributed to these efforts, registering back-to-back attempts on goal at the start of the fourth minute. The Flying Dutchmen also kept producing defensively as the period went on, as Lee made a save at the 5:11 mark before Reece McDonald blocked a shot at the 7:09 mark. 

Several other players made an impact defensively for Lebanon Valley in the opening period, as Harris Blackwood blocked a shot 8:48 into the first before Ian Lindberg tallied a block at the 9:22 mark. The Dutchmen also continued to send the puck toward the net as the frame progressed, as Helmer and Darion Benchich each took shots on goal in a five-second stretch that began near the end of the 10^th minute. Cade Freer then recorded an attempt that was saved 10:51 into the period. Later in the first, Max Kontir put a pair of shots on goal that were saved within six seconds in the 14^th minute. 

Back on the defensive end, Lee continued to dominate by making two key stops within 31 seconds in the 19^thminute. LVC's offense followed this with a shot by Brenden Yingling that was saved at the 19:09 mark. Lee then capped off his strong opening frame by making a save with nine seconds left, maintaining the scoreless tie. 

Lee picked up right where he left off when the second period got underway, posting three saves for Lebanon Valley within 22 seconds during the second minute. The program also worked to create scoring chances during the frame, as Troy Andrews took a shot that was saved at the 3:05 mark before Jordan Stear's attempt was saved 15 seconds later. Arcadia countered with a try 4:03 into the period, which resulted in another stop by Lee. The Dutchmen then opened the scoring 5:02 into the second, taking a 1-0 lead over the Knights. The program got on the board with a goal by Haralds Jirgens, courtesy of assists by McDonald and Dylan Miller. 

Arcadia took a shot on goal of its own at the 5:42 mark, and Lee logged yet another big save. Lebanon Valley later found the net again at the 9:43 mark, taking a 2-0 advantage. The squad went up by two on a power-play goal by Helmer, following assists by Darion Benchich and Stear. The Knights responded 10:25 into the second, narrowing the score to 2-1 on a goal by Donnie Feldman. 

The Flying Dutchmen were stellar defensively through the end of the second frame, holding the opposition to just two more shots on goal. Miller and Dylan Gutierrez played a role in the team's defensive efforts, blocking a shot each during a 50-second stretch that started in the 16^th minute. LVC also worked to generate offensive opportunities, as Helmer and Hoover each took shots that were saved within three seconds in the 17^th minute. Lee then posted his final save of the second at the 17:35 mark, preserving Lebanon Valley's one-goal lead. 

Lee faced a couple more shots by the Knights early in the third period and came through with a stop 39 seconds into the frame before saving another at the 1:21 mark. The Dutchmen also sent shots towards the net at the start of the third, including two attempts by Gutierrez that were saved within eight seconds in the third minute. Defensively, Lebanon Valley received contributions from Mac Diver and Gutierrez as well, who each tallied blocks within 24 seconds in the sixth minute. This was followed by the Flying Dutchmen creating some scoring chances, as a shot on goal by McDonald was saved at the 7:27 mark, and a try by Blake Dustin was saved 8:08 into the period. 

Arcadia tallied more shots as the third went on, and Lee delivered important saves at the 9:16 and 9:21 marks. Lebanon Valley then put another point on the scoreboard 11:15 into the third period, going ahead 3-1. The team reclaimed a two-goal advantage on Helmer's second goal of the evening, after Kontir and Hoover dished out assists. The Dutchmen followed this by continuing to battle defensively during the remaining minutes of the third frame, as Lee came through with 10 more clutch saves. The goaltender registered three of these stops during the final minute, including one with eight seconds to go. This strong defensive performance helped secure LVC's 3-1 win. 

Inside the Box Score

• The victory extends Lebanon Valley's winning streak to three games. 
• Helmer scored his second and third goals of the season, marking the first multi-goal game of his career. The junior's first goal of the night was also his first game-winner of the campaign. 
• Jirgens found the net for the fourth time this year, which leads the team. The senior has scored in each of Lebanon Valley's last three games. 
• McDonald and Miller assisted the goal by Jirgens. This was McDonald's first assist of the campaign. 
• Benchich and Stear dished out the assists on Helmer's first goal. 
• Kontir and Hoover were credited with the assists on Helmer's second goal. Kontir's assist also marked his first career point. 
• Lebanon Valley outshot Arcadia 41-32. 
• Hoover led the Dutchmen with six shots on goal. 
• Lee made 31 saves during the win. 
• On the defensive end, LVC blocked 12 shots. 
• Gutierrez and Mac Diver tied a game-high two blocks.
• The Flying Dutchmen won 22 faceoffs.
• Yingling led Lebanon Valley with six faceoff victories. 

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

Stay Connected
Be sure to follow @lvcathletics on Instagram, X, and Facebook for the most in-depth coverage of LVC Athletics.