HERSHEY, Pa. ­­– Cody Walker recorded a game-high three points to lead five players who tallied multi-point games for the Lebanon Valley College men's ice hockey team, propelling the program to a big 5-3 victory over Alvernia University on Friday, Nov. 21, at Hersheypark Arena. 

Owen Ames, Max Kontir, Cade Helmer, and Mason Proskin were also key contributors to the win, recording two points each for the Flying Dutchmen. Ames netted a power-play goal for LVC in the third period, which proved to be the game-winner. Goaltender Branch played an important role as well, making a game-high 39 saves on the defensive end. 

The Dutchmen delivered a strong defensive effort early in the contest, as Branch made two saves while John King and Dylan Miller each blocked a shot within the first 4:44. The Golden Wolves then opened the scoring 4:45 into the first period, taking a 1-0 lead on a goal by Keegan Driscoll. Lebanon Valley's offense countered with a couple of opportunities, as Ames put a shot on goal that was saved at the 5:26 mark, and Garret Jackson had an attempt saved at the 7:31 mark. Defensively, Branch followed this with more stops for LVC at the 7:40 and 8:15 marks. 

The Flying Dutchmen got on the board 9:50 into the first period, tying the game at 1-1. The program evened the score on a goal by Walker, courtesy of assists by Kontir and Proskin. Alvernia responded with a few shots on target, but Branch answered with saves for LVC at the 10:59, 11:15, and 12:36 marks. The goaltender's last save during this stretch came while the opposition was on a power play. The Golden Wolves then found the net again 13:14 into the first, taking a 2-1 advantage on a power-play goal by Anthony Piccininno. Lebanon Valley also kept working to create scoring chances during the rest of the period, as Helmer, Anton Petrovskiy, Jesse Shogan, and Joey Pankowski each put a shot on goal that was saved. Branch also tallied two more saves during the remaining minutes of the first. 

The Dutchmen continued to send the puck toward the net when the second period got underway, recording six shots on target during the first 7:02 of the frame. During this stretch, Mason Proskin, Jack Foote, and Reece McDonald each had an attempt saved within nine seconds in the sixth minute. Alvernia countered with a pair of shots, which resulted in saves by Branch at the 7:51 and 8:46 marks. Peyton Myers also contributed to LVC's defensive efforts with a block at the 8:55 mark, while Foote had a block 10 seconds later. 

Lebanon Valley scored again 10:50 into the second period, tying things up at 2-2. Kontir netted the program's second goal of the night, following assists by Troy Andrews and Walker. The Golden Wolves then put shots on target at the 11:39,11:42, and 13:33 marks, and Branch made saves on each attempt. LVC's offense also logged more shots as the frame went on, as Lukas Washco, Aidan Bright, and Ian Lindberg each had tries saved within 33 seconds in the 13th minute. The Dutchmen then found the net 14:51 into the second, claiming a 3-2 lead. The squad went ahead when Helmer sent the puck into the back of the net for a goal, after assists by Ames and Lindberg. Back on the defensive end, Branch helped maintain the program's lead with five more saves during the remainder of the period. 

Branch kept battling during the third period, as the goaltender registered eight saves for Lebanon Valley during the first 5:19 of the frame. During this stretch, Proskin blocked two shot attempts by Alvernia while King and Shogan each had a block as well. LVC followed with a couple of shots, as Proskin had two tries saved within three seconds in the seventh minute. The Flying Dutchmen added a tally 7:41 into the third, going up 4-2. The team capitalized on having a 5-on-3 advantage, as Ames netted a power-play goal to put the squad up by two. Proskin and Walker were credited with assists on what proved to be the game-winning goal. 

Defensively, Branch went on to make seven more saves for Lebanon Valley over the next 5:52, including one stop during a successful penalty kill. Alvernia then scored on a goal by Frazer Dodd at the 13:52 mark, making it a 4-3 contest. Branch followed this by delivering more saves for LVC at the 14:38 and 16:15 marks. The Dutchmen later tacked on an important insurance point, taking a 5-3 lead. Shogan netted a shot for a big power-play goal, courtesy of assists by Helmer and King. LVC went on to maintain its lead through the end of the game, securing the win. 

Inside the Box Score

• Walker recorded a game-high and season-high three points, scoring his second goal of the campaign and dishing out a season-high two assists. The sophomore's two assists were also tied for the most in the game. 
• Ames netted his first career game-winning goal and dished out an assist. 
• Helmer tied a season-high two points with a goal and an assist. 
• Kontir registered a career-high two points with a goal and an assist. The sophomore also led the team with 10 faceoff wins. 
• Shogan scored his first career goal. 
• Proskin dished out a career-high two assists for a career-high two points, tying game-highs in assists and points. He assisted the game-winning goal by Ames and the goal by Walker. 
• Andrews was credited with an assist on the goal by Kontir. 
• Lindberg logged an assist on the goal by Helmer. 
• King had an assist on the goal by Shogan. The junior also tallied a game-high and career-high four blocks on the defensive end. 
• Branch made a game-high 39 saves.
• Lebanon Valley put 30 shots on goal. 
• The Flying Dutchmen had a 20-6 advantage in blocked shots. 
• Bright, Proskin, Ames, and Helmer each blocked two shots as well. 
• LVC logged 26 faceoff victories. 

Up Next
The Dutchmen will be back in action tomorrow, Saturday, Nov. 22, at 4 p.m., when the team will host the Golden Wolves again at Hersheypark Arena.  

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