HERSHEY, Pa. ­­– Mason Proskin scored his first goal of the season for the Lebanon Valley College men's ice hockey team, as the program delivered a valiant effort while dropping a 4-1 contest to Wilkes University on Saturday, Nov. 15, at Hersheypark Arena. 

The Colonels put three shots on goal during the first 1:52 of the first period, and the Dutchmen responded with saves on each attempt by goaltender Chris Branch. Lebanon Valley countered with an offensive opportunity while the program was short-handed, as Max Kontir took a shot that was saved at the 4:01 mark. After a successful penalty kill for LVC, Branch logged more saves at the 4:55 and 6:07 marks. The Flying Dutchmen also kept sending the puck toward the net, as Reece McDonald took a shot during a power play that was saved at the 7:05 mark, and John King had a try saved at the 8:31 mark. 

Back on the defensive end, Branch proceeded to make four saves for Lebanon Valley over the next 2:26. The goaltender's last stop during this stretch came during a successful penalty kill for LVC, which Aidan Bright and Kontir contributed to with blocks. The Dutchmen also recorded a shot on target by Proskin while the team was short-handed, which was saved at the 11:28 mark. Collin Nolan joined the program's offensive efforts, putting two shots on goal that were saved within 30 seconds in the 13th minute. Wilkes then opened the scoring 16:06 into the first, taking a 1-0 lead on a goal by Trevor Belak. Branch proceeded to make three more saves for Lebanon Valley during the remaining minutes of the period. 

The Flying Dutchmen created several scoring chances early in the second period, as Proskin put three shots on target that were saved, while Owen Ames and Cody Walker each had an attempt saved during the first 1:28 of the frame. Defensively, Branch came through with a save for LVC at the 2:39 mark, before registering two stops within three seconds in the fourth minute. The Colonels then scored on a goal by Cam Lowe at the 4:18 mark and a goal by Christian Blomquist at the 6:07 mark, going up 3-0. 

Branch continued to face shots by Wilkes as the second period progressed, and the goaltender answered with 10 saves over the next six minutes. Lebanon Valley later began a power play in the 13th minute, and Cade Helmer took a shot that was saved at the 12:22 mark. The Dutchmen then got on the board 13:12 into the second, narrowing the score to 3-1. The program made it a two-point game on a power-play goal by Proskin, courtesy of assists by Dylan Miller and King. Back on the defensive end, Branch tallied five more saves for LVC during the remainder of the period. The Flying Dutchmen also generated some more offensive opportunities, as Walker and Ian Lindberg each had a shot on target saved within 16 seconds in the 17th minute.

Branch kept battling when the third period got underway, recording four saves for Lebanon Valley during the first 2:26 of the frame. The Dutchmen also continued to take shots, as King, Miller, and Artem Kondrashov each put a shot on goal that was saved within 12 seconds in the sixth minute. The programs proceeded to go back and forth defensively until Branch delivered more saves for LVC at the 11:12, 15:30, 16:28, and 16:39 marks. 

The Flying Dutchmen also kept working to create scoring chances as the third period went on, as Walker took a shot that was saved at the 16:59 mark, and King's attempt was saved at the 17:44 mark. The Colonels added a tally on an empty net goal by Jack Lee at the 18:02 mark, taking a 4-1 lead. Lebanon Valley proceeded to compete until the final minute, as Peyton Myers put a shot on target that was saved at the 18:56 mark, and King's try was saved with 10 seconds left. Ultimately, the score was maintained through the end of the game. 

Inside the Box Score

• Proskin netted his first goal of the season while tying a game-high six shots on goal. 
• Miller dished out an assist. 
• King also assisted Proskin's goal. 
• Branch made a season-high 41 saves.
• Lebanon Valley put 27 shots on goal. 
• On the defensive end, the Flying Dutchmen had a 13-8 advantage in blocked shots.
• Proskin, Anton Petrovskiy, and Tanner Tolliver each tallied two blocks, tying a game-high. Petrovskiy tied his season-high in blocks. 
• LVC recorded 31 faceoff victories.
• Kontir had a game-high 12 faceoff wins. 

Up Next
Lebanon Valley will return to the ice on Friday, Nov. 21, at 7 p.m., when the program will host Alvernia University for the first of two matchups next weekend at Hersheypark Arena.

Stay Connected
Be sure to follow @lvcathletics on Instagram, X, and Facebook for the most in-depth coverage of LVC Athletics.