ANNVILLE, Pa. ­­– Alex Kiviniemi netted a career-high seven goals for the Lebanon Valley College men's lacrosse team, as the program dropped a hard-fought 14-11 contest to Goucher College on a rainy Saturday afternoon in its home opener at Arnold Field. 

The Dutchmen opened the scoring 43 seconds into the game, taking a 1-0 lead over the Gophers on a goal by John Lux. Goucher responded with three consecutive points, taking a 3-1 advantage with 5:15 remaining in the first quarter. Lebanon Valley then answered with 2:40 to go in the frame, narrowing the score to 3-2 on an unassisted goal by Kiviniemi. 

On the defensive end, goalkeeper Kellen Markley made two key saves for LVC in a 19-second stretch that began with just over two minutes to play in the first. The Flying Dutchmen kept creating scoring chances as the quarter went on, registering four shots in the last minute. The program found the net with just 10 seconds left in the quarter, tying the game at 3-3. Jake Bollinger took three shots over the span, including the attempt that got past the goaltender to even the score. Colin Hughes was credited with the assist on Bollinger's goal. 

The Gophers began the second quarter with a goal 53 seconds into the frame, before the Dutchmen tied it at 4-4 with 12:59 left. The program tied the contest after Kiviniemi picked up a ground ball and netted his second goal of the afternoon just five seconds later. Goucher countered with a point, but Lebanon Valley answered right back to make it a 5-5 contest with 7:59 to go in the opening half. Kiviniemi tied it with another shot into the net, courtesy of an assist by Bollinger.

The programs continued to swap points as the second frame progressed, netting a goal each over the next 5:48 to advance the score to 6-6 with just over two minutes left. After a goal by the Gophers, LVC sent six shots toward the net over a span of 2:47. These efforts were capped off with an unassisted goal by Kiviniemi, tying the game. The Dutchmen kept generating offensive opportunities during the remainder of the stanza, tallying a goal to claim a 7-6 advantage with 1:15 to go in the second quarter. Dylan Rinyak recorded an unassisted goal, giving the program a one-point lead entering halftime. 

Goucher was aggressive offensively early in the second half, taking a shot that was saved by Markley 40 seconds into the frame. The opposition then tied the contest at 7-7 with a goal 54 seconds into the third quarter. Lebanon Valley took back its advantage with 13:24 remaining in the frame, going ahead 8-7 on another unassisted goal by Kiviniemi. The Gophers followed this with five consecutive goals, going up 12-8 with 4:31 to play in the third. The Dutchmen then made it a 12-9 contest after Kiviniemi found the net during an extra man opportunity. Lux was credited with the assist on Kiviniemi's sixth goal. 

The teams battled defensively early in the fourth quarter, maintaining the score for 6:52 at the start. Markley posted two saves for LVC during this scoreless stretch. Goucher resumed the offense with a goal when there was 8:08 remaining, taking a 13-9 lead. Lebanon Valley responded with a tally 2:34 later, trimming the deficit to 13-10 on Kiviniemi's seventh goal of the day.

The Flying Dutchmen put another point on the board with 3:20 to go in the fourth frame, advancing the score to 13-11. The squad made it a two-point contest on a goal by Hughes, following an assist by Trey Ralston. The Gophers tacked on a point with 37 seconds left, taking a 14-11 advantage. This would stand as the final score. 

Inside the Box Score

• Kiviniemi scored a career-high seven goals, bringing his goals total to 12 and his points total to 15 this season. The graduate student posted a game-high 13 shots. 
• Hughes netted his 10^th goal of the year while dishing out an assist on Bollinger's goal. 
• Bollinger scored his 12^th goal of the campaign while assisting Kiviniemi's third goal.
• Lux recorded his seventh goal of the season and an assist on Kiviniemi's sixth goal. 
• Rinyak found the net in the second quarter, marking his first goal of the year. 
• Ralston assisted the goal by Hughes. 
• Lebanon Valley outshot Goucher 48 to 29. 
• The Dutchmen went 10-for-11 on clears.
• LVC tallied 34 ground balls while Goucher had 23. 
• Miles Snyder led the program with seven ground balls and posted the game-high in faceoff victories, going 13-for-24. 
• Sheadan Makosy and Easley Pierson both cause two turnovers, tying for the game-high. 
• The Flying Dutchmen had a 15 to 12 advantage in faceoff wins. 

Up Next
The Dutchmen will return to action at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, March 6, as the program will host Wilkes University at Arnold Field. 

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