OSWEGO, N.Y. ­­– Max Kontir netted his first career goal for the Lebanon Valley College Men's Ice Hockey team to begin the Oswego Holiday Tournament, as the program dropped a 6-1 contest to Alvernia University on Friday, Jan. 3 at the Deborah F. Stanley Arena & Convocation Center. This meeting between the programs during the tournament was a non-conference game. 

The Dutchmen were productive defensively early in the first period, as Reece McDonald, Harris Blackwood, and Mac Diver each blocked a shot within the first 2:54 of the game. The Golden Wolves then took their first shot on goal at the 3:11 mark, but goaltender Chris Branch was there to make the save for LVC. Lebanon Valley's offense countered with a shot by Dylan Miller, which was saved 3:46 into the frame. Alvernia followed this by opening the scoring 4:42 into the first, taking a 1-0 lead on a goal by Brock Mueller. 

The Golden Wolves put another shot on goal at the 5:52 mark, and Branch responded with a save. Alvernia then scored again 8:05 into the first period, taking a 2-0 advantage on a goal by Matthew Imbriano. The Flying Dutchmen also kept working to generate offensive opportunities as the opening frame progressed, as Dylan Gutierrez took a shot that was saved at the 9:42 mark during a power play before Justin Davis had an attempt saved 12:50 into the first. 

Lebanon Valley continued to battle defensively during the first period as well, as Branch logged a save at the 13:44 mark before John King blocked a shot 14:49 into the frame. This was followed by Branch posting a stop at the 15:22 mark before Cade Freer blocked a try 15:45 into the first, and Darion Benchich had a block 30 seconds later. LVC's offense responded with a shot on goal by Blake Dustin, which was saved at the 17:29 mark. Back on the defensive end, Branch closed out the period with three more saves, including two within 28 seconds in the 19^th minute. 

The Dutchmen got on the scoreboard 2:39 into the second period, narrowing their deficit to 2-1. The program made it a 2-1 game when Kontir sent a shot into the back of the net for a power-play goal, courtesy of assists by Gutierrez and Branch. The Golden Wolves followed this by creating some scoring chances, but Branch came through with saves at the 4:20, 6:29, and 6:33 marks. Lebanon Valley also kept sending the puck toward the net as the period progressed, as Ethan Hoover logged a shot that was saved 8:08 into the second.

Alvernia found the net again 11:25 into the second, advancing the score to 3-1 on a goal by Sawyer Senio. The Flying Dutchmen followed this by generating some opportunities during a power play, as Miller put a shot on goal that was saved at the 12:34 mark before Cameron Croteau's try was saved at the 13:06 mark. The Golden Wolves then added another tally 14:10 into the period, going ahead 4-1 on a goal by Easton Inglis. 

Lebanon Valley's offense also tallied more attempts as the end of the second frame approached, putting four more shots on goal in the remaining minutes. These shots included tries by Freer and King within six seconds in the 17^th minute. Branch continued to battle as well, tallying five more saves in the final minutes of the period.

Branch faced another shot on goal by the opposition early in the third period and responded with a save at the 1:31 mark. Lebanon Valley then created a scoring chance with a shot on goal by Gutierrez during a power play, which was saved 4:16 into the frame. Alvernia followed this by tacking on a point 5:51 into the third, extending its lead to 5-1 on a goal by Joey Arnold. The Dutchmen countered with a shot on goal, as Freer's try was saved at the 6:26 mark. The team also had four attempts during a stretch of four minutes when it was on power plays, which began in the ninth minute.

The Golden Wolves scored again 13:10 into the third period, making it a 6-1 contest on another goal by Arnold. Goaltender Lochlan Lauer entered the game and later posted saves for LVC at the 15:28 and 17:48 marks. The Dutchmen also kept battling offensively through the end of the contest, as Davis sent a shot off the post at the 19:03 mark before logging another try that was saved with 47 seconds left. Alvernia went on to maintain its lead through the end of play. 

Inside the Box Score

• Kontir scored his first career goal during the second period. 
• Gutierrez dished out an assist on Kontir's goal.
• Branch made 25 saves and tallied an assist on Kontir's goal. 
• Lebanon Valley recorded 24 shots on goal. 
• Miller tied a game-high four shots on goal. 
• Defensively, the Flying Dutchmen blocked 16 shots. 
• Diver registered a game-high four blocks. 
• McDonald also blocked a pair of shots. 
• Lauer made the first two saves of his career. 
• LVC and Alvernia both tallied 25 faceoff victories. 
• Hoover led the team with eight faceoff wins. 

Up Next
The Dutchmen will return to the ice at 1 p.m. tomorrow, Jan. 4, when the team will compete against Neumann University in the consolation game of the Oswego Holiday Tournament, at the Deborah F. Stanley Arena & Convocation Center. 

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