COLMAR, Pa. ­­– Mac Diver had a game-high four blocks on the defensive end for the Lebanon Valley College Men's Ice Hockey team, as the program dropped a hard-fought 2-0 contest to Arcadia University on Saturday, Feb. 1, at Hatfield Ice Arena. 

The Dutchmen tallied the first shot on goal of the game, as Justin Davis sent a puck toward the net that was saved 16 seconds into the first period. Darion Benchich followed this by taking a shot that was saved 3:15 into the frame. The Knights countered with some scoring chances, but Lebanon Valley's defense responded with a block by Jordan Stear and a save by goaltender Chris Branch within six seconds in the fifth minute. Branch also delivered saves for LVC at the 5:58, 6:04, 7:50, 8:37, and 8:49 marks. Diver contributed to the program's defensive efforts as well, blocking a shot 9:17 into the first before Branch had a stop three seconds later. 

The Flying Dutchmen also kept working to generate offensive opportunities as the opening period progressed, as Brenden Yingling and Harris Blackwood took back-to-back shots that were saved during the 11^th minute. Lebanon Valley later went on a power play, and Dylan Miller, Benchich, and Yingling each logged a shot that was saved within five seconds in the 13^th minute. Davis and Garret Jackson also each put a shot on goal within three seconds during minute 13, when the teams were back to even strength. Branch then continued to battle defensively during the remainder of the first, making eight more saves, including three within 10 seconds in the 17^th minute. LVC's offense also created some more chances before the end of the first, as Max Kontir and Cade Freer each had a shot saved within four seconds in the 19^th minute. 

The Knights opened the scoring 1:40 into the second period, taking a 1-0 lead on a power-play goal by Donnie Feldman. Arcadia then went on a power play that began in the third minute, and Branch came through with a pair of saves within four seconds during this stretch. The Dutchmen also kept logging shots as the frame progressed, as Lukas Washco had an attempt saved at the 4:28 mark during a power play, and Troy Andrews registered a try that was saved at the 8:26 mark. Branch followed this with a pair of saves, as the goalie came through with two stops within three seconds in the 10^th minute. 

Lebanon Valley's offense continued to generate opportunities, as Freer took a shot on goal that was saved during a power play at the 11:55 mark before taking another 12:44 into the second. Harris Blackwood also contributed to these efforts, recording an attempt during a power play at the 14:38 mark. The Dutchmen also kept delivering strong defense through the rest of the period, as Diver blocked a shot and Branch made a save within 26 seconds in the 17^th minute while the team was on a penalty kill. Branch then tallied a stop at the 17:11 mark, before Andrews and Aidan Bright each blocked a shot within 15 seconds in the 19^th minute. 

The programs went back and forth defensively at the start of the third period, as neither side put a shot on goal for over three minutes. Cade Helmer took the first shot of the frame for Lebanon Valley while the program was on a power play, which was saved at the 3:02 mark. Arcadia countered with some attempts while on a power play, and Branch helped limit the opposition with saves at the 4:40, 5:03, and 5:18 marks. The goaltender also delivered a stop at the 6:06 mark before Kontir blocked a shot eight seconds later. The Dutchmen kept sending the puck toward the net as well, as Blake Dustin and Kontir each put a shot on goal that was saved within three seconds in the seventh minute. Later in the period, Yingling recorded a shot that was saved at the 8:51 mark before Tanner Tolliver had two attempts saved within three seconds in the 10^th minute. 

Lebanon Valley logged more shots as the third period went on, as Jackson and Stear each had a try saved within six seconds in the 12^th minute. Dylan Gutierrez and Kontir then both took a shot on goal that was saved within 38 seconds in the 17^th minute. Back on the defensive end, Branch posted saves for LVC at the 18:13, 18:19, 19:05, and 19:11 marks while the program was on a penalty kill. Arcadia then found the net again with 26.5 seconds remaining in the contest on a power-play goal by Michael Hertzberg, prompting 2-0 to be the final score. 

Inside the Box Score

• Defensively, the Flying Dutchmen blocked 20 shots during the contest. 
• Diver recorded a game-high four blocks. 
• Stear also blocked three shot attempts by Arcadia. 
• Davis, Kontir, and Andrews each tallied a pair of blocks as well. 
• Branch made 41 saves during the game. 
• Lebanon Valley recorded 32 shots on goal. 
• Davis and Kontir tied for the team lead in shots with four each. 
• Freer, Yingling, and Washco also had three shots on goal each. 
• LVC tallied 21 faceoff victories. 
• Kontir led the squad with eight faceoff wins. 

Up Next
Lebanon Valley will return to action at 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 7, when the team will host Wilkes University at Hersheypark Arena. 

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