HERSHEY, Pa. ­­– Darion Benchich netted a goal for the Lebanon Valley College Men's Ice Hockey team during the first period, as the program battled until the end while dropping a 3-2 contest to Stevenson University on Saturday, Jan. 25, at Hersheypark Arena.

The Dutchmen got the job done defensively early in the first period, as goaltender Chris Branch made five saves within the first 4:53. Lebanon Valley then opened the scoring 5:34 into the game, taking a 1-0 lead over the Mustangs. The program got on the board when Benchich sent the puck into the back of the net, courtesy of assists by Aidan Bright and Cade Helmer. Stevenson countered with a shot on goal at the 7:40 mark, and Branch came through with the save. LVC followed this by generating some more offensive opportunities, as Blake Dustin took a shot that was saved 8:37 into the frame, and Jordan Stear had an attempt saved at the 9:43 mark. Reece McDonald also tallied a try that was saved 11:13 into the first. 

The Mustangs scored 11:29 into the opening period, tying the contest at 1-1 on a goal by Graeme McCrory. The Dutchmen continued to send the puck toward the net as the period progressed, as Benchich and Cade Freer took back-to-back shots that were saved during the 14^th minute. Branch also kept battling as the frame went on, making three saves within 16 seconds in the 16^th minute while LVC was on a penalty kill. Mac Diver then contributed to the squad's defensive efforts by blocking a shot at the 16:03 mark. Stevenson found the net again 16:21 into the first, taking a 2-1 advantage on a power-play goal by Blake Benson. 

Branch faced more shots by the Mustangs when the second period got underway, and the goaltender responded with five saves for the Flying Dutchmen during the first 5:08. Lebanon Valley's offense then created some scoring chances, as Freer and Jack Foote each put a shot on goal that was saved within eight seconds in the seventh minute. Stevenson also continued to tally shots, but Branch delivered saves for LVC at the 7:05 and 8:30 marks. Later in the frame, Diver blocked another shot 9:32 into the second and Ian Lindberg blocked an attempt at the 11:29 mark while the program was on a penalty kill. 

Branch also made a save 12:03 into the period when the opposition was on the power play, before registering another 16 seconds later. The Dutchmen then went on a power play that began in the 14^th minute, and Benchich, Freer, and Dylan Miller each put a shot on goal that was saved within 13 seconds during this stretch. The programs proceeded to go back and forth through the remainder of the second period, keeping each other off the scoreboard. Branch made four more stops for Lebanon Valley during the rest of the frame, including three when Stevenson was on a power play. 

The Flying Dutchmen remained productive defensively during the third period, as Branch logged three more saves within the first 4:35. Dustin also made an impact on the defensive end, blocking a shot by the Mustangs 6:01 into the frame. Lebanon Valley kept working to create offensive opportunities during the period as well, as Diver and McDonald each logged a shot on goal that was saved within two seconds in the eighth minute. Benchich also tallied a shot that was saved 8:00 into the third. 

The Dutchmen went on a penalty kill that began during the ninth minute of the third and responded with more strong defense. Lindberg blocked a shot at the 8:47 mark before Branch delivered a pair of saves within four seconds in the 10^th minute. Benchich also tallied a block at the 9:50 mark, and Foote had a block 15 seconds later while Stevenson was still on the power play. Back on the offensive end, Foote then sent a shot toward the net that was saved 11:08 into the period. Branch continued to produce as the third went on as well, tallying stops at the 12:12, 12:18, 13:42 and 14:55 marks.

Lebanon Valley kept sending the puck toward the goalie as the end of the third period approached, as Diver took a shot on goal that was saved 15:25 into the frame before Harris Blackwood had an attempt saved at the 16:22 mark. The Mustangs then tacked on a point with 32.1 seconds left, taking a 3-1 lead on an empty-net goal by Liam McCanney. The Dutchmen answered right back, narrowing the score to 3-2 with 11.6 seconds to go. The team got within one on a goal by Blackwood, following assists by Stear and Ethan Hoover. Ultimately, this would stand as the final score.

Inside the Box Score

• Benchich scored his fourth goal of the season.
• Blackwood netted his team-leading seventh goal of the campaign, marking his 50^th career point. 
• Bright dished out the primary assist on Benchich's goal. 
• Helmer recorded his team-leading 10^th assist of the campaign on the goal by Benchich. 
• Stear and Hoover were credited with the assists on Blackwood's goal. 
• Lebanon Valley recorded 23 shots on goal. 
• Benchich and McDonald tied for the team lead in shots with four each. 
• Branch made 33 saves during the contest.
• The Dutchmen blocked 11 shots on the defensive end. 
• Diver led the program with a game-high five blocks. 
• Lindberg also blocked a pair of shots. 
• LVC had a 31-25 advantage in faceoff victories. 
• Brenden Yingling tied a game-high nine faceoff wins. 

Up Next
The Dutchmen will return to action at 4 p.m. tomorrow, Sunday, Jan. 26, when the team will host the Mustangs at GIANT Center.  

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