ASTON, Pa. ­­– Cade Freer and Cameron Croteau both recorded a goal and an assist in the Lebanon Valley College Men's Ice Hockey team's final game of the season, as the program dropped a 9-3 decision to Neumann University on Saturday, Feb. 22, at Ice Works Rink #3. 

The Dutchmen worked to limit the opposition early in the contest, holding the Knights to just two shots on goal for over five minutes at the start. Goaltender Jadon Lee posted a save on this attempt 58 seconds into the first period. Lebanon Valley also worked to generate offensive opportunities, as Dylan Gutierrez took a shot that was saved at the 5:28 mark. Neumann began a power play at the 6:33 mark, and LVC responded with a block by Reece McDonald and a save by Lee within 18 seconds in the seventh minute. The Knights then opened the scoring 7:16 into the first, taking a 1-0 lead on a power-play goal by Lucas Culhane. 

The Flying Dutchmen countered with a shot on goal by Gutierrez at the 7:50 mark and an attempt by Mac Diver that was saved at the 8:24 mark. Lee also continued to face shots by Neumann as the first period progressed, and the goalie responded with five saves over the next 1:19. The Knights found the net again 10:45 into the opening period, taking a 2-0 advantage on a goal by Zack Smith. Neumann later tacked on another point 15:15 into the first, making it a 3-0 game on a goal by Dustin Patterson. Back on the defensive end, Lee proceeded to make five more stops during the remainder of the period, including two during a penalty kill. 

Lebanon Valley created some scoring chances early in the second period, as Freer, Blake Dustin, and Diver each put a shot on goal within the first 3:49. The program also battled defensively early in the frame, as Harris Blackwood tallied two blocks, Dylan Miller had a block, and Lee made two saves during the opening 6:26. The Knights scored again 6:28 into the second, going ahead 4-0 on a goal by Matt Dimaline. The Dutchmen answered back 7:23 into the frame, narrowing the score to 4-1. The program got on the scoreboard when Croteau sent a shot into the back of the net, courtesy of assists by Gutierrez and Freer. 

The Dutchmen continued to send the puck toward the net as the second period went on, as Ethan Hoover put a shot on goal at the 8:45 mark, and Gutierrez logged a try at the 11:03 mark. Defensively, Lee came through with a save 11:42 into the frame before another at the 13:07 mark. Lebanon Valley then found the net again 14:43 into the second, making it a 4-2 contest. The team got within two on a short-handed goal by Freer after an assist by Croteau. Neumann responded with some shots, and Lee delivered saves at the 16:22, 17:38, and 18:00 marks. The Knights followed this by scoring 18:49 into the second, taking a 5-2 lead on a goal by Dimaline. 

Lebanon Valley kept battling on the offensive end as the third period got underway, as Croteau, Dustin, Freer, and Max Kontir each took a shot that was saved during a stretch of 1:21 that began in the fourth minute. Neumann put another point on the board 4:48 into the third, making it a 6-2 contest on a goal by Culhane. Lee then faced seven shots on goal over the next 3:28 and made saves on each attempt, including three during a penalty kill. The Dutchmen followed this with some offensive opportunities, as Lukas Washco had a shot saved at the 9:13 mark before Tanner Tolliver put a shot on goal at the 11:35 mark. 

Neumann then scored on power-play goals by Dylan Mozell at the 13:35 and 15:47 marks, going ahead 8-2. Lebanon Valley responded with a goal by Hoover 16:35 into the third period, narrowing the score to 8-3. Diver was credited with the assist on the program's third goal of the evening. The squad followed this with some more shots, as Dustin had a try at the 16:46 mark before Diver logged an attempt during a power play at the 18:03 mark. The Knights later added a point at the 18:15 mark on a short-handed goal by Tony Andrews, prompting 9-3 to be the final score. 

Inside the Box Score

• Croteau scored his third goal of the season. The junior also dished out an assist on Freer's goal.
• Freer netted his second goal of the campaign, which marked his first career short-handed goal. The senior also registered an assist on Croteau's goal. 
• Hoover found the net for the seventh time this season, which tied for the most on the team. 
• Gutierrez tallied the primary assist on Croteau's goal. 
• Diver assisted Hoover's goal in the third period, marking his first assist of the year. 
• Lebanon Valley took 21 shots on goal during the contest.
• Gutierrez, Croteau, Freer, Dustin, and Diver tied for the team lead in shots with three each.
• Lee made 40 saves during the game. 
• Defensively, the Flying Dutchmen had a 14-7 advantage in blocked shots.
• McDonald posted a game-high three blocks. 
• Blackwood also blocked two shots. 
• LVC tallied 35 faceoff victories. 
• Croteau tied a game-high 13 faceoff wins.

The Dutchmen concluded the 2024-25 season with the battle at Neumann.

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