HERSHEY, Pa. ­­– Cade Freer scored his first goal of the season for the Lebanon Valley College Men's Ice Hockey team, as the program dropped a hard-fought 3-2 contest to Stevenson University on Sunday, Jan. 26, at GIANT Center. Freer was one of four LVC players to record a point during the game, as Blake Dustin also netted a goal, while Darion Benchich and Cade Helmer each had two assists. 

The Mustangs created some offensive opportunities early in the first period, and the Dutchmen responded with a strong defensive effort. Stevenson attempted a shot 1:30 into the frame, and it was blocked by Lukas Washco. Goaltender Jadon Lee also made four saves for Lebanon Valley during the opening 5:43. The goalie continued to produce as the period went on, coming through with more saves at the 7:16, 8:59, 9:22, and 9:27 marks. The Flying Dutchmen also worked to create scoring chances during the first, as Max Kontir and Jordan Stear each put a shot on goal that was saved within four seconds in the 11^th minute. 

Dylan Miller followed this with an attempt for LVC that was saved 11:03 into the first period. Lee kept battling on the defensive end as well, delivering stops at the 15:29 and 16:05 marks. Mac Diver also contributed to these efforts, blocking a shot 16:15 into the first. The Mustangs then opened the scoring 18:41 into the game, taking a 1-0 lead on a goal by Evan Beers when each team had four skaters on the ice. The Dutchmen countered with a shot on goal by Dustin, which was saved with 23 seconds left.

Lebanon Valley's defense kept working to limit the opposition when the second period got underway, as Lee made a pair of saves and Ian Lindberg blocked a shot within the first 2:02. The Flying Dutchmen then went on a power play that began in the third minute, and Helmer put a shot on goal that was saved at the 3:48 mark before Freer's try was saved 14 seconds later. Jason Tynan also logged a shot that was saved 5:28 into the frame. Back on the defensive end, Lee registered more stops for LVC at the 9:18, 11:06, and 12:00 marks while the program was on a penalty kill. Stear and Harris Blackwood also each blocked a shot within 13 seconds in the 10^th minute. 

Stevenson scored again 12:32 into the second, taking a 2-0 advantage on a goal by Aidan O'Connell. Lebanon Valley countered with a shot on goal by Washco that was saved at the 12:55 mark. The Mustangs later went on another power play, and Lee came through with six saves, including two each in the 17^th and 18^th minutes. The Dutchmen also sent the puck toward the net again before the end of the second, as Brenden Yingling took a shot on goal that was saved with 1:40 to go. 

The Flying Dutchmen generated some offensive opportunities early in the third period, as Dustin and Wascho each took a shot that was saved within 18 seconds during the first minute. Diver also recorded an attempt that was saved 2:54 into the frame. Defensively, Lee then came through with four saves for LVC over the next 1:43. Lebanon Valley's offense followed this with some more shots, as Troy Andrews had two attempts saved while Stear and Washco each tallied a try that was saved within 35 seconds in the sixth minute. The Mustangs followed this by adding a tally 7:08 into the third, making it a 3-0 game on a goal by Aiden Lindley.

Lebanon Valley continued to record shots as the third period progressed, logging five attempts over the next 3:56. During this stretch, Dustin and Miller each took a shot on goal while LVC was on a power play. Back on the defensive end, Lee delivered eight saves for the program over the following 7:20, including three while the team was on a penalty kill. The Dutchmen then got on the board 18:40 into the third, narrowing their deficit to 3-1. The team scored its first goal of the night on a shot into the back of the net by Freer, courtesy of assists by Benchich and Helmer. Lebanon Valley proceeded to keep battling, finding the net again with 6.3 seconds left to make it a 3-2 game. The squad got within one on a power-play goal by Dustin, while LVC had six skaters on the ice. Helmer and Benchich also were credited with the assists on the final goal of the evening, as the score was maintained through the end of play. 

Inside the Box Score

• Freer scored his first goal of the season.
• Dustin netted his second goal of the campaign. The first-year led the team with five shots on goal. 
• Helmer recorded his team-leading 11^th and 12^th assists of the winter, including the primary assist on Dustin's goal. 
• Benchich also dished out assists on each of Lebanon Valley's goals, including the primary assist on Freer's goal. 
• Lebanon Valley took 28 shots on goal. 
• Lee made a career-high 44 saves during the game. 
• The Dutchmen blocked six shots on the defensive end. 
• Lindberg tied a game-high two blocks.
• The Flying Dutchmen were successful on all four penalty kills. 
• LVC tallied 28 faceoff victories.
• Yingling led the team with nine faceoff wins. 

Up Next
Lebanon Valley will return to the ice at 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 31, when the program will host Misericordia University at Hersheypark Arena. 

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