HERSHEY, Pa. ­­– Lukas Washco netted his first goal of the season for the Lebanon Valley College Men's Ice Hockey team, as the program dropped a 3-1 battle against Wilkes University on Friday, Feb. 7, at Hersheypark Arena. Dylan Gutierrez also recorded a point by dishing out an assist on LVC's goal.

Goaltender Chris Branch was productive for the Dutchmen early in the first period, saving three shots by the Colonels within the opening 2:22. The goalie delivered one of these stops while LVC was on a penalty kill. Gutierrez also contributed to the program's defensive efforts with a block at the 3:51 mark. Lebanon Valley worked to generate offensive opportunities during the frame as well, as Jason Tynan took a shot on goal that was saved at the 4:19 mark, and Tanner Tolliver had an attempt saved 6:14 into the period. This was followed by Troy Andrews recording two shots that were saved, while Brenden Yingling and Jordan Stear also each had a try saved within 32 seconds in the eighth minute. 

The Flying Dutchmen continued their strong defensive effort as the first period went on as Branch made a save and Mac Diver had a block within seven seconds in the eighth minute. The goaltender later made another stop at the 10:38 mark. Lebanon Valley kept sending the puck toward the net as well, as Ian Lindberg took a shot that was saved at the 10:56 mark, and Lukas Washco had an attempt saved at the 11:54 mark. Wilkes then opened the scoring 14:18 into the first period, taking a 1-0 lead on a power-play goal by Miles Harrington. The Dutchmen countered by tallying more shots, as Reece McDonald and Jack Foote each logged an attempt that was saved within 12 seconds in the 16^th minute. Defensively, Branch kept working to limit the opposition by making three more saves in the remaining minutes of the first. 

The Colonels scored again 3:27 into the second period, taking a 2-0 advantage on a goal by Easton Stafford. Wilkes then took more shots as the frame went on, and Lebanon Valley's defense responded with a block by Cameron Croteau and two stops by Branch within nine seconds in the fifth minute. The Dutchmen also created some scoring chances, as Yingling took a shot that was saved 5:17 into the period before Croteau's try was saved at the 6:18 mark. Back on the defensive end, this was followed by a block by Tynan at the 6:35 mark and saves by Branch at the 7:22, 7:35, 7:56, and 8:02 marks. 

Lebanon Valley continued to send the puck toward the goalie as the second period progressed, as Yingling took a shot that was saved 9:02 into the frame, and Darion Benchich registered an attempt that was saved at the 11:13 mark. Later in the period, Tolliver tallied a try that was saved at the 12:50 mark before Dylan Miller and Tolliver took back-to-back shots that were saved in the 14^th minute. Branch also remained productive for the Flying Dutchmen, as the goaltender came through with saves at the 14:01, 14:55, and 15:24 marks. LVC responded with a shot on goal by Harris Blackwood that was saved at the 15:47 mark before Yingling's shot was saved nine seconds later. The Colonels then went on a power play that began in the 17^th minute, and during this stretch, Diver and Ethan Hoover each delivered a block while Branch had another save. Branch also capped off the second with a stop as time expired. 

Wilkes took the first shot of the third period, and Branch responded with a save for Lebanon Valley at the 2:21 mark. LVC's offense also worked to create opportunities, as Gutierrez took a shot on goal that was saved 3:24 into the frame. The Dutchmen then got on the board 6:51 into the third, narrowing the score to 2-1. The program made it a one-goal game on a shot into the back of the net by Washco, courtesy of an assist by Gutierrez. Lebanon Valley kept battling offensively as the period went on, tallying six shots on goal over the next 6:48, including two during a power play. During this stretch, Yingling, Diver, and Lindberg each put a shot on goal that was saved within 30 seconds during the 14th minute. 

Branch also kept working to hold the opposition in check with a save 13:54 into the third period. The programs proceeded to go back and forth defensively, as neither team put a shot on goal for over four minutes. The Colonels then took a pair of shots, which resulted in Branch making two saves for the Flying Dutchmen within 20 seconds in the 19th minute. Wilkes later added another tally with 41.7 seconds remaining in the contest, as an empty net goal by Joe Johnson prompted the final score to be 3-1. 

Inside the Box Score

• Washco scored his first goal of the campaign for Lebanon Valley, marking his first point with the program.
• Gutierrez registered an assist on Washco's goal.
• Lebanon Valley and Wilkes both took 31 shots on goal. 
• Yingling and Andrews tied for a game-high five shots.
• Branch made 28 saves during the game.
• The Flying Dutchmen blocked seven shots on the defensive end. 
• Diver led the team with two blocks. 
• Gutierrez, Tynan, Hoover, Croteau, and Blackwood each tallied a block as well.
• LVC had a 29-27 advantage in faceoff victories. 
• Croteau led the squad with nine faceoff wins. 

Up Next
Lebanon Valley's contest against King's College that was originally scheduled for tomorrow, Feb. 8, has been postponed to 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 18, at Hersheypark Arena. The Dutchmen will take the ice next at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 11, when the program will travel to take on Misericordia University at the Toyota SportsPlex in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.

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