HERSHEY, Pa. ­­– Brenden Yingling and Darion Benchich each netted a goal for the Lebanon Valley College Men's Ice Hockey team, as the program dropped a hard-fought 3-2 contest in overtime to King's College on Tuesday, Feb. 18, at Herhsheypark Arena. 

The Dutchmen were aggressive offensively early in the game, as Ethan Hoover, Cade Freer, and Cameron Croteau each put a shot on goal within the first 1:36. Lebanon Valley also battled on the defensive end during the first period, as goaltender Jadon Lee saved seven shots by the Monarchs over the next 5:54. The goalie delivered three of these stops for LVC within 24 seconds in the sixth minute. The program continued to send the puck toward the net as the frame went on as well, as Troy Andrews registered a pair of shots that were saved within 41 seconds in the 10^th minute. 

The Flying Dutchmen opened the scoring 11:55 into the first period, taking a 1-0 lead over the Monarchs. The programs struck first when Benchich scored a goal, courtesy of assists by Harris Blackwood and Lukas Washco. King's countered with some attempts, and Lee made a stop at the 11:59 mark before Blackwood blocked a try 12:17 into the frame. Lee also came through with saves at the 12:58 and 13:17 marks. The goaltender proceeded to make six more saves during the remaining minutes of the first, including three during a penalty kill. LVC created another scoring chance before the end of the period, as Washco had a shot on goal saved with 35 seconds left. 

The Dutchmen generated some more offensive opportunities when the second period began, as Cade Helmer tallied two shots that were saved within four seconds in the third minute. Lee also continued to produce defensively, making three saves within the first 7:39 of the frame. The Monarchs then got on the scoreboard 8:35 into the second, tying the game at 1-1 on a goal by Brendan Krawczyk when each team had four skaters on the ice. King's followed this with a couple more attempts, and Blackwood blocked a shot at the 8:57 mark before Lee had a stop eight seconds later. 

Lebanon Valley also kept tallying shots as the second period progressed, putting four attempts on goal over the next six minutes. The Monarchs scored again 15:19 into the frame, taking a 2-1 lead on a goal by Kent Lee. The Dutchmen followed this with a key defensive stretch, as Mac Diver blocked a shot attempt, and Lee had two saves within eight seconds in the 16^th minute. The program proceeded to keep the opposition from putting a shot on goal during the rest of the period. The Flying Dutchmen also continued to battle offensively during the remaining minutes, taking six more shots on goal. Freer contributed to these efforts, accounting for three of the shots. 

Lebanon Valley created some scoring chances early in the third period, as Max Kontir, Andrews, and Dylan Miller each took a shot during the first 3:11 of the frame. The shot by Andrews came during a power play. Back on the defensive end, Andrews blocked a shot for LVC at the 3:51 mark, and Jordan Stear had a block at the 4:20 mark. Lee also delivered saves for the program at the 4:29 and 6:17 marks. The Dutchmen followed this by taking more shots on the offensive end, registering 12 shots on goal over the next 6:16, with eight coming during power plays.

The Flying Dutchmen found the net again 13:09 into the third period, tying the contest at 2-2. The team evened the score when Yingling sent an unassisted, power-play goal into the back of the net. King's also kept sending the puck toward the net as the frame went on, but Lee posted seven important saves for LVC during the remaining minutes of the third, including three during power plays. Lebanon Valley's offense also kept working to create chances by taking five shots on goal during the final three minutes of regulation. The programs remained tied at 2-2 at the end of the third, sending the matchup into overtime. 

Lee faced a pair of shots on goal within the first two minutes of overtime and recorded a save for the Dutchmen 47 seconds into the frame before making another stop at the 1:57 mark. Lebanon Valley also sent the puck toward the net during the period, as Freer put three shots on goal that were saved within four seconds in the third minute. The Monarchs then won the game on a goal by Lee 3:44 into overtime, prompting 3-2 to be the final score. 

Inside the Box Score

• Yingling scored his second goal of the season. 
• Benchich found the net for the sixth time this season. 
• Blackwood and Washco dished out assists on Benchich's goal. 
• Lebanon Valley outshot King's 52-40, marking a season-high in shots on goal for the Dutchmen. 
• Freer took a game-high and career-high nine shots on goal. 
• Lee recorded 37 saves during the game. 
• The Flying Dutchmen blocked 13 shots on the defensive end. 
• Diver tied a game-high three blocks. 
• Stear, Jack Foote, and Blackwood also had two blocks each. 
• LVC had a 37-35 advantage in faceoff victories. 
• Croteau posted a game-high 15 faceoff wins, which ties a career-high

Up Next
Lebanon Valley will return to the ice at 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 21, when the program will host Alvernia University for Senior Day and its final home game of the season at Hersheypark Arena. 

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