HERSHEY, Pa. ­­– Cody Walker scored two goals for the Lebanon Valley College men's ice hockey team, as the program dropped a hard-fought 5-4 contest to King's College on Saturday, Jan. 10 at Hersheypark Arena. Troy Andrews and John King also netted a goal each for the Flying Dutchmen. 

The Dutchmen and the Monarchs went back and forth at the beginning of the first period, as goaltender Chris Branch made six saves for LVC while the team's offense put four shots on goal during the first 9:45. King's then opened the scoring 10:22 into the game, taking a 1-0 lead on a goal by Logan Gallagher. Branch kept working to limit the opposition as the frame progressed, as the goaltender came through with five stops for Lebanon Valley over the next 5:24. 

The Flying Dutchmen also kept sending the puck toward the net as the end of the first period approached, registering seven shots on goal over the next 3:16. Andrews logged four shots during this stretch. Lebanon Valley then got on the board 19:03 into the first, tying the contest at 1-1. The program evened the score when Andrews sent the puck into the back of the net for a goal, courtesy of assists by Cade Helmer and Cameron Croteau. 

The Dutchmen found the net again just 2:45 into the second period, claiming a 2-1 advantage. The squad went ahead on a goal by King, following an assist by Aidan Bright. Back on the defensive end, Branch posted five saves for LVC over the next 3:13, including two stops when the opposition was on a power play. King's then scored on a power-play goal by Gallagher at the 6:27 mark, tying the game at 2-2. The Flying Dutchmen countered with some offensive opportunities, as Andrews and Mason Proskin each put a shot on target that was saved within 14 seconds in the eighth minute, while Max Kontir had an attempt saved at the 9:51 mark. 

Lebanon Valley put another tally on the scoreboard 10:37 into the second period, taking a 3-2 lead. The program went back in front when Walker netted an unassisted goal. The Monarchs responded with a goal by Thomas Soucy at the 13:18 mark, prompting the score to be even at 3-3. The teams proceeded to keep battling, as LVC took three shots on goal that were saved, while Branch made two total saves during two successful penalty kills, over the next 5:28. King's later scored on a goal by Soucy at the 19:01 mark and a short-handed goal by Denys Arkhypenko at the 19:23 mark, taking a 5-3 advantage.

Each squad put two shots on goal that were saved within the first 2:36 of the third period. Lebanon Valley then began a power play in the fourth minute, leading to Lukas Washco taking two shots that were saved while King and Owen Ames each had a try saved as well. This was followed by LVC recording six shots on goal over the next 7:16, including three total attempts during two power plays, which started in the ninth and 12th minutes.

The Dutchmen scored again 12:54 into the third period, narrowing their deficit to 5-4. The team made it a one-goal game on a power-play goal by Walker, after assists by Helmer and Ames. Defensively, Branch then made five more saves during the remainder of the contest, including four total stops during two successful penalty kills. The Flying Dutchmen also kept working to generate offensive opportunities during the final minutes, as Anton Petrovskiy sent a puck toward the net that was saved with just over three minutes to go. Ultimately, the score was maintained through the end of play. 

Inside the Box Score

• Walker scored a season-high two goals, which tied a game-high. The sophomore now has four goals this year.
• Andrews netted his first goal of the campaign while taking a game-high and season-high eight shots on goal. The senior also blocked a shot on the defensive end. 
• King found the net for the fifth time this winter, while winning seven faceoffs and blocking one shot. 
• Croteau tallied his first point of the year with an assist on the goal by Andrews. The senior also tied a game-high nine faceoff wins. 
• Helmer tied a career-high two assists and blocked one shot. 
• Bright assisted King's goal, marking his first point of the season. The sophomore also blocked a shot on the defensive end. 
• Ames was credited with an assist on Walker's second goal. The first-year is tied for the team lead in points with 12. Ames also logged a season-high nine faceoff wins to match a game-high and had a game-high and season-high four blocks. 
• Branch recorded 33 saves.
• Lebanon Valley tallied 37 shots on goal. 
• Defensively, the Flying Dutchmen had a 14-10 advantage in blocked shots.
• LVC had a 41-32 advantage in faceoff victories.

Up Next
Lebanon Valley will be back in action on Friday, Jan. 16, at 7 p.m., when the team will host Misericordia University for the first of two matchups next weekend at Hersheypark Arena. 

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