OSWEGO, N.Y. ­­– Ethan Hoover registered a goal and an assist while Darion Benchich had two assists for the Lebanon Valley College Men's Ice Hockey team, as the program dropped a 5-2 game to Neumann University on Saturday, Jan. 4 at the Deborah F. Stanley Arena & Convocation Center. The matchup was the consolation game of the Oswego Holiday Tournament and was considered a non-conference contest.

The Knights opened the scoring early in the first period, taking a 2-0 lead after Zack Smith scored a power-play goal 40 seconds into the game and netted another goal five seconds later. Neumann went on another power play in the third minute and put three shots on goal during this stretch, but goaltender Jadon Lee responded with saves for the Dutchmen at the 2:33, 4:17, and 4:21 marks. Lebanon Valley then got on the scoreboard 6:19 into the first, narrowing its deficit to 2-1. The program made it a one-goal game on a power-play goal by Hoover, courtesy of assists by Blake Dustin and Benchich. 

The Flying Dutchmen followed this with some strong defense, as Lee made a pair of saves within six seconds in the seventh minute before Garret Jackson blocked a shot at the 7:23 mark. LVC also worked to generate offensive opportunities during another power play, as Dylan Gutierrez took a shot that was saved 9:52 into the frame before Jordan Stear and Hoover each had a shot saved within two seconds in the 11^th minute. Hoover later put back-to-back shots on goal in the 14^th minute, which were saved. 

Defensively, Lebanon Valley continued its efforts to limit the opposition with a save by Lee at the 13:53 mark before Gutierrez blocked an attempt six seconds later. This was followed by Lee delivering two saves within 33 seconds in the 15^th minute. The Dutchmen also created some more scoring chances in the first, as Dustin and Reece McDonald each tallied shots on goal that were saved within 24 seconds in the 17^th minute. LVC's defense proceeded to keep Neumann off the board during the remainder of the first, as Lee had two more stops while the opposition was on a power play. 

The Knights generated some offensive opportunities early in the second period, and Lee responded with seven saves in the first 6:37 of the frame. The goaltender made three of these saves within 19 seconds in the seventh minute. The Dutchmen also kept sending the puck toward the net, as Hoover took two shots on goal while Benchich and Dustin each had an attempt during a 21-second stretch in the eighth minute. Lebanon Valley also received defensive contributions from multiple players during the second, as Max Kontir blocked a shot 9:01 into the period and Justin Davis had a block at the 10:49 mark. 

LVC continued to tally shots as the second period went on, as Jack Foote logged a try that was saved at the 11:24 mark before Dustin and Ian Lindberg both took shots that were saved within 18 seconds in the 13^thminute. Neumann then scored again 15:22 into the second, going ahead 3-1 on a short-handed goal by PJ Demitrio. Lebanon Valley followed this by creating a scoring chance during a power play, as Hoover put a shot on goal that was saved at the 16:05 mark. The Dutchmen went on to keep the Knights scoreless through the rest of the second, as Aidan Bright blocked a shot 16:46 into the period before Lee posted a save with 25 seconds left.

Neumann added another tally 37 seconds into the third period, taking a 4-1 lead on Demitrio's second goal. The Knights followed this by putting 11 more shots on goal during the first 6:22 of the third, and Lee made saves on each try. Lebanon Valley also kept sending shots toward the goaltender, as Freer and Brock Stitley both had an attempt within 13 seconds in the ninth minute. The Dutchmen found the net again 11:06 into the third, making it a 4-2 contest. The squad trimmed the deficit to two when Dylan Miller sent a shot into the net following assists by Hoover and Benchich. 

Neumann countered with an attempt at the 11:31 mark, but Lindberg was there to block the shot for LVC. Lebanon Valley remained aggressive offensively as the third period rolled on, putting six shots on goal over the next 2:57. During this stretch, Dustin took two shots, and Cameron Croteau had a try within 13 seconds in the 14^th minute. The Knights then tacked on a point 15:31 into the third, going up 5-2 on Smith's third goal of the contest. The Dutchmen kept battling offensively until the clock expired, as Miller and Hoover both put shots on goal that were saved within two seconds in the final minute. Neumann proceeded to maintain its 5-2 lead through the end of the game. 

Inside the Box Score

• Hoover netted his fourth goal of the season, which leads the team. The sophomore also dished out an assist on Miller's goal. Hoover took a game-high 10 shots as well.
• Miller scored his third goal of the campaign. 
• Benchich recorded assists on both of LVC's goals. 
• Dustin dished out his first career assist on Hoover's goal.
• Lebanon Valley took 35 shots on goal. 
• Lee made 39 saves during the contest.
• The Flying Dutchmen blocked 19 shots on the defensive end. 
• Ian Lindberg tied a game-high three blocks.
• Gutierrez, Croteau, Harris Blackwood, and John King also tallied two blocks each.
• The Flying Dutchmen had a 32-31 advantage in faceoff victories. 
• Croteau led the team with 10 faceoff wins. 

Up Next
Lebanon Valley will return to action at 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 10, when the program will host King's College at Hersheypark Arena for the first matchup of a home-and-home next weekend. 

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