HERSHEY, Pa. ­­– Reece McDonald netted the go-ahead goal for the Lebanon Valley College men's ice hockey team in the third period, propelling the program to an exciting 3-2 victory over Wilkes University in its home opener on Friday, Nov. 14, at Hersheypark Arena. 

Cade Helmer was also a key contributor to LVC's first win of the season, tying a game-high two points with a goal and an assist. John King also made an impact, scoring a goal. On the defensive end, goaltender Chris Branch made 38 saves. 

The Dutchmen battled defensively early in the game, as Branch made three saves while Troy Andrews and Garret Jackson each blocked a shot attempt by the Colonels during the first 2:32. Lebanon Valley countered with an offensive opportunity, as Lukas Washco put a shot on goal that was saved at the 2:48 mark. Branch proceeded to deliver four saves for LVC over the next 3:02, including three stops within 10 seconds in the fifth minute. This was followed by some scoring chances for the Flying Dutchmen, as Artur Kondrashov had a try saved at the 7:31 mark, Aidan Bright's shot was saved at the 9:34 mark, and Cody Walker's attempt was saved 28 seconds later. 

Wilkes put a couple more shots on goal in the 11th minute, which resulted in a pair of saves by Branch within 15 seconds. Lebanon Valley then went on a power play in the 12th minute, and Owen Ames put a shot on target that was saved before McDonald had two attempts saved. This was followed by Branch making three saves within 46 seconds in the 15th minute, before registering another stop at the 15:50 mark. The Dutchmen also kept working to create opportunities on the offensive end, as Washco put a shot on goal that was saved at the 16:35 mark, and Tanner Tolliver had an attempt saved at the 18:49 mark. In the final minute of the first period, Branch made a save for LVC, and Tolliver blocked a shot within six seconds. 

The programs went back and forth at the beginning of the second period, as each squad put five shots on target that were saved within the first 7:23 of the frame. The Colonels began a power play in the sixth minute, but the Flying Dutchmen remained productive defensively with two saves by Branch and a block by Ian Lindberg during a successful penalty kill. Lebanon Valley then opened the scoring 7:54 into the second, taking a 1-0 lead. The program struck first when Helmer sent the puck into the back of the net for a goal, courtesy of assists by Andrews and Jesse Shogan. Wilkes responded with a goal by Matt Carlson at the 8:30 mark, tying the contest at 1-1. LVC countered with some shots, as Mason Proskin and Kondrashov each had an attempt saved within 32 seconds in the 10th minute.

Back on the defensive end, Lebanon Valley continued its strong effort with a save by Branch, a block by Bright, and two blocks by Tolliver within 41 seconds in the 11th minute. LVC then began a power play in the 13th minute, leading to Helmer taking a shot that was saved at the 12:33 mark, and Dylan Miller having a try saved 12 seconds later. The Dutchmen took advantage of having an extra skater on the ice, finding the net at the 13:17 mark to go up 2-1. The program went ahead on a power-play goal by King, following assists by Helmer and Proskin. Lebanon Valley also kept competing on the defensive end through the end of the second period, as Branch delivered six more saves during the remaining minutes. The goaltender logged two of these stops during a successful penalty kill that started in the 18th minute, while Shogan also had a block during this stretch. 

Wilkes continued to send the puck toward the net early in the third period, as Branch made four saves for Lebanon Valley during the first 3:29 of the frame. The Colonels then scored on a goal by Christian Blomquist at the 5:21 mark, tying the game at 2-2. LVC countered with a shot on goal by Jack Foote that was saved at the 5:32 mark, before Walker had a shot saved at the 8:40 mark during a power play. The Flying Dutchmen then put another tally on the board 8:41 into the third, claiming a 3-2 lead. The program went back in front on a clutch power-play goal by McDonald, after assists by Walker and Ames. 

The Colonels followed this with some offensive opportunities, and Branch answered with saves for the Dutchmen at the 9:40, 10:37, and 10:50 marks. Wilkes also started a power play in the 14th minute, which resulted in a save by Branch, two blocks by Jordan Stear, and a block by Max Kontir during a successful penalty kill for LVC. Lebanon Valley's defense kept working to limit the opposition as the end of the game approached, as the program began another successful penalty kill in the 18th minute. During this productive stretch, Ames had a block, and Proskin blocked three shots. The teams returned to even strength with just 24 seconds to go. Branch then made a save at the 19:51 mark, and Stear blocked a shot with two seconds left, securing LVC's 3-2 victory. 

Inside the Box Score

• McDonald scored his second goal of the season, which marked his first career game-winning goal. 
• Helmer tied a game-high two points, tallying his first goal and first assist of the season.  
• King netted his second goal of the campaign, which marked his first career power-play goal. 
• Andrews and Shogan assisted Helmer's goal. 
• Walker and Ames were credited with assists on McDonald's game-winning goal. 
• Proskin also assisted King's goal.
• Branch made a game-high and season-high 38 saves. 
• Lebanon Valley tallied 31 shots on goal. 
• Kondrashov, Walker, and Tolliver tied for the team lead in shots on target with four each. 
• Defensively, the Flying Dutchmen had a 27-14 advantage in blocked shots.
• Proskin and Stear tied a game-high four each. Proskin set a career-high while Stear tied a career-high. 
• Tolliver also blocked three shots. 
• LVC recorded 29 faceoff victories.
• Kontir led the program with 12 faceoff wins. 
• The victory marked Lebanon Valley's first-ever win over Wilkes. 

Up Next
The Dutchmen will return to action tomorrow, Saturday, Nov. 15, at 4 p.m., when the team will host the Colonels again at Hersheypark Arena.

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