WILKES-BARRE, Pa. ­­– Mac Diver blocked a game-high three shots for the Lebanon Valley College Men's Ice Hockey team, as the program dropped a 7-0 decision to Misericordia University on Tuesday, Feb. 11, at the Toyota SportsPlex. Cameron Croteau also recorded a game-high 13 faceoff victories for LVC during the contest. 

The Cougars opened the scoring 2:16 into the first period, taking a 1-0 lead on a goal by Samuel Libetti. The Dutchmen countered by generating some offensive opportunities, as Tanner Tolliver put a shot on goal that was saved at the 2:49 mark while Jason Tynan and Lukas Washco each tallied an attempt that was saved with 23 seconds in the fourth minute. On the defensive end, goaltender Jadon Lee then made four saves for Lebanon Valley over the next 5:59, including three during a penalty kill. While the opposition was on this power play, LVC created a short-handed attempt with a shot by Jordan Stear that was saved at the 9:24 mark.

Misericordia found the net again 10:08 into the first on a goal by Nicholas Solema and scored at the 12:58 mark on a goal by Jack Tos, making it a 3-0 game. Lebanon Valley's offense also kept working to create opportunities as the frame progressed, as Washco logged a shot on goal at the 13:04 mark before Cade Freer had two attempts within 28 seconds in the 15^th minute. Defensively, Lee later came through with saves at the 16:14, 16:23, and 16:31 marks. LVC also registered a few more shots before the end of the first, as Reece McDonald, Max Kontir, and John King each had a try within 44 seconds in the 19^th minute.

The Dutchmen went on a power play that began 46 seconds into the second period, and Dylan Gutierrez put three shots on goal within 30 seconds in the second minute. Later in the frame, Washco, Darion Benchich, and Ethan Hoover each tallied an attempt within 11 seconds in the fifth minute. Defensively, Lee followed this with four saves over the next 3:05. Misericordia then scored twice in the 10^th minute of the period, going ahead 5-0 after a power-play goal by Corbin Scheibel at the 9:42 mark and a goal by Dom Della Civita at the 9:45 mark. 

Lebanon Valley's offense also kept battling as the second period went on, as Washco took a shot on goal at the 15:14 mark during a power play before Tolliver registered an attempt 45 seconds later. Back on the defensive end, goaltender Chris Branch then made six saves for the Dutchmen during the remaining minutes of the frame, including a pair during a penalty kill. Diver contributed to the team's defensive efforts as well, blocking a shot at the 18:32 mark before Hoover also had a block during the penalty kill at the 19:04 mark. 

The Flying Dutchmen took the first shot of the third period, as Diver sent a puck toward the net that was saved 29 seconds into the frame. The Cougars then recorded a power-play goal by Scheibel 1:11 into the third, advancing the score to 6-0. Branch faced more shots from the opposition as the period progressed, and the goaltender posted two stops within 29 seconds in the third minute. LVC also kept working to generate offensive opportunities during the third, as Jack Foote took a shot on goal at the 3:51 mark, and Croteau logged a try 4:23 into the period. Defensively, Gutierrez later delivered a block at the 6:49 mark. 

Misericordia went on a power play that started in the 10^th minute of the third period, and Lebanon Valley's defense responded with two saves by Branch while Stear and Diver each had blocks within 20 seconds in the 11^th minute. Kontir also worked to create a scoring opportunity when the squad was short-handed, putting a shot on goal that was saved at the 12:45 mark. The Dutchmen went on a power play that started during the 16^th minute as well, and Hoover, Benchich, and Dylan Miller each registered a shot within 10 seconds. The Cougars then scored with 20 seconds left on a goal by Zach Ross, prompting 7-0 to be the final score. 

Inside the Box Score

• The Flying Dutchmen blocked six shots on the defensive end.
• Diver recorded a game-high six blocks. 
• Gutierrez, Stear, and Hoover also each logged a block. 
• LVC had a 38-36 advantage in faceoff victories. 
• Croteau recorded a game-high 13 faceoff wins. 
• Lebanon Valley recorded 35 shots on goal.
• Washco tied a game-high five shots. 
• Freer and Kontir also tallied four attempts each. 
• Lee and Branch each had 15 saves.
• Benchich competed in his 100th career game.

Up Next
Lebanon Valley will return to action at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 15, when the team will travel to take on Stevenson University at the Reisterstown SportsPlex in Reisterstown, Maryland. 

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