HERSHEY, Pa. ­­– John King netted a goal for the Lebanon Valley College men's ice hockey team in the second period, which proved to be the game-winner in the program's important 3-2 victory over Alvernia University on Saturday, Nov. 22, at Hersheypark Arena. Goaltender Chris Branch also played an integral role in LVC earning the sweep of the weekend series, making 53 saves. 

The Dutchmen (3-5-0, 3-3-0 MAC) and the Golden Wolves (5-3-0, 3-3-0 MAC) went back and forth early in the first period, as each team put three shots on goal that were saved during the first 4:36. Lebanon Valley then opened the scoring at the 5:36 mark, taking a 1-0 lead. The program struck first with a goal by Owen Ames, courtesy of assists by Cade Helmer and Troy Andrews. LVC later went on a power play and generated a couple of offensive opportunities, as Helmer and Andrews each took a shot that was saved within 47 seconds in the eighth minute. 

Back on the defensive end, Branch proceeded to make five saves for the Flying Dutchmen over the next 6:58. During this stretch, Ian Lindberg and Ames each tallied a shot for LVC's offense. Lebanon Valley found the net again 15:04 into the first period, taking a 2-0 advantage. The program scored its second goal when Joey Pankowski sent the puck into the back of the net, following assists by Anton Petrovskiy and Mason Proskin. Alvernia then went on a power play in the 17th minute, and Branch registered six more stops for the Dutchmen during a successful penalty kill. The Golden Wolves later got on the board with a goal by Leo Cabulis with 15 seconds left in the first, narrowing the score to 2-1. 

Lebanon Valley recorded the first shot of the second period, as Reece McDonald put a shot on goal that was saved 54 seconds into the frame. The Flying Dutchmen then scored again at the 3:25 mark, extending their lead to 3-1. The program went up by two when King netted a back-handed shot for a goal. Tanner Tolliver was credited with the assist on LVC's third goal. Branch continued to battle as the period went on, making eight more saves for the Dutchmen over the next 7:02. During this stretch, Petrovskiy and Andrews each blocked a shot. Aidan Bright and King also had a block each within seven seconds in the 11th minute.

LVC kept sending the puck toward the net as the second period progressed, putting five shots on target over the next 6:06. During this stretch, Helmer and Peyton Myers each had an attempt saved within 29 seconds in the 17th minute. Defensively, Branch followed this by posting five more saves during the remaining minutes of the second frame. McDonald also contributed to these efforts, blocking a shot attempt by Alvernia at the 17:04 mark. 

The Golden Wolves concluded a power play at the beginning of the third period, and Branch made two more saves during a successful penalty kill for the Dutchmen. This was followed by Lindberg blocking a shot at the 1:44 mark, before Garret Jackson had a block, and Branch had a stop within 49 seconds in the fourth minute. Lebanon Valley's offense countered with a shot on goal by Proskin, which was saved at the 4:27 mark. Branch then recorded 10 more saves for LVC over the next 4:10, including a pair of stops during a successful penalty kill. 

The Golden Wolves scored again 9:21 into the third period, trimming their deficit to 3-2 on a goal by Frazer Dodd. Alvernia followed this a couple of shots, but Branch was there to tally saves for LVC at the 9:29 and 10:28 marks. Petrovskiy then put a shot on target for Lebanon Valley at the 10:40 mark, which was saved. Back on the defensive end, Branch made three more saves while Jesse Shogan and Bright each blocked a shot during the next 3:29. Lindberg then blocked two shots, and McDonald had a block within 19 seconds in the 16th minute. Proskin also came through with a block for the Flying Dutchmen at the 16:07 mark. Branch proceeded to register six important saves for Lebanon Valley during the remaining minutes of the game, securing the program's second straight victory. 

Inside the Box Score

• King scored his third goal of the season, which marked his first career game-winner.
• Pankowski netted his first career goal, logging his first career point in the process. 
• Ames scored his team-leading sixth goal of the year. 
• Tolliver assisted King's game-winning goal. 
• Petrovskiy recorded his first career point with an assist on Pankowski's goal. 
• Andrews and Helmer were credited with assists on the goal by Ames.
• Proskin also dished out an assist on Pankowski's goal.
• Branch made a game-high and season-high 53 saves. 
• Lebanon Valley put 22 shots on goal. 
• McDonald led the team with four shots on target. 
• Defensively, the Flying Dutchmen had a 26-5 advantage in blocked shots. 
• Jack Foote, McDonald, and Lindberg tied a game-high three blocks. Foote set a career-high in blocks, McDonald tied a career-high, and Lindberg set a season-high. 
• LVC and Alvernia both won 27 faceoffs. 
• Kontir went 11-for-15 in faceoffs, tying a game-high in faceoff victories. 

Up Next
Lebanon Valley will return to action on Friday, Nov. 28, at 7 p.m., when the program will compete against Vermont State University Castleton on the first day of the university's Terry Moran Invitational Tournament at Spartan Arena in Rutland, Vt. 

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