WILKES-BARRE, Pa. ­­– Cade Helmer and Max Kontir both scored goals for the Lebanon Valley College Men's Ice Hockey team, as the program dropped a hard-fought 4-2 contest to Misericordia University on Saturday, Jan. 18, at the Toyota SportsPlex.

The Cougars opened the scoring 57 seconds into the first period, taking a 1-0 lead on a goal by Corbin Scheibel. The Dutchmen countered with some offensive opportunities, as Troy Andrews, Reece McDonald, and Kontir each took shots on goal that were saved within 15 seconds in the fifth minute. Lebanon Valley also continued to send the puck toward the net as the frame went on, as Ethan Hoover and Dylan Miller each registered attempts that were saved within 22 seconds in the 10^th minute while the program was on a power play. 

The Flying Dutchmen battled defensively during the opening period as well, as Cade Freer blocked a shot by Misericordia at the 10:48 mark before Kontir had a block at the 11:06 mark. This was followed by Andrews taking two shots on goal and Kontir logging a try within 17 seconds in the 12^th minute. The Cougars then created some scoring chances, but goaltender Jadon Lee came through with saves for LVC at the 13:47 and 16:28 marks. Jordan Stear and Ian Lindberg also contributed to the squad's defensive efforts, blocking a shot each within five seconds in the final minute of the first. 

The Dutchmen got on the scoreboard 33 seconds into the second period, tying the game at 1-1. The program evened the score when Kontir sent a shot past the goaltender, courtesy of assists by Andrews and McDonald. Misericordia then put a pair of shots on goal within 11 seconds in the fourth minute, and Lee delivered stops on each try. Lebanon Valley's offense also kept generating opportunities, as Freer and Andrews both had shots saved within 31 seconds in the 10^th minute. Kontir and Mac Diver also each had attempts that were saved within 28 seconds in the 11^th minute.

The Cougars scored again 11:25 into the second, taking a 2-1 advantage on a goal by Ethan Hollingsworth. The Flying Dutchmen continued to send the puck toward the net as the frame went on, putting five more shots on goal during the remaining minutes. Hoover accounted for two of these tries, tallying shots on goal at the 13:50 and 17:34 marks. Back on the defensive end, Lee made a save on Misericordia's final attempt of the second at the 17:50 mark. 

Lebanon Valley was aggressive offensively early in the third period, as McDonald, Hoover, Freer, and Darion Benchich each recorded shots on goal within the first 3:14. The Dutchmen then went on a penalty kill during the fourth minute, and Lee saved both attempts he faced during this two-minute stretch. McDonald and Justin Davis also blocked shots for LVC while the Cougars were on the power play. The program kept logging shots as the period rolled on as well, registering five attempts during a power play that began at the end of the sixth minute. 

Lee also kept working to limit the opposition during the third, coming through with saves at the 8:51, 9:22, and 14:28 marks. LVC countered with a shot on goal by Dylan Gutierrez, which was saved 14:58 into the period. Misericordia then put another point on the board 15:32 into the final frame, making it a 3-1 contest on a goal by James Eng. The Dutchmen answered back with a goal of their own at the 17:05 mark, narrowing the score to 3-2. The team made it a one-goal game when Helmer found the net, following assists by Brenden Yingling and Hoover. The Cougars later added another tally on an empty-net goal by Jack Tos with 53 seconds left, prompting 4-2 to be the final score. 

Inside the Box Score

• Kontir netted his second goal of the season.
• Helmer scored his fifth goal of the campaign. The junior also led the team with six faceoff victories. 
• Andrews and McDonald dished out assists on the goal by Kontir. 
• Yingling and Hoover were credited with assists on Helmer's goal. 
• Lebanon Valley outshot Misericordia 47-22. 
• Hoover took a game-high eight shots on goal. 
• Miller, Andrews, and Kontir also had five attempts each. 
• Lee made 18 saves during the game.
• Defensively, the Flying Dutchmen blocked 10 shots. 
• Lindberg and Diver tied for a game-high two blocks. 
• LVC was successful on all five penalty kills. 
• The Flying Dutchmen had 22 faceoff wins. 

Up Next
Lebanon Valley's next contest against Misericordia, which was scheduled for tomorrow, Jan. 19, has been postponed. The Dutchmen will return to action at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 25, when the program will host Stevenson University at Hersheypark Arena for the first of two matchups this weekend. The second game between LVC and Stevenson will be at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 26 at GIANT Center.  

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