HERSHEY, Pa. ­­– Four players recorded multi-point games for the Lebanon Valley College men's ice hockey team, propelling the program to a 5-1 victory over Misericordia University on Saturday, Jan. 17 at Hersheypark Arena. 

Cade Helmer led the Flying Dutchmen (5-10-1, 5-6-1 MAC) with a game-high three points, scoring a goal and dishing out a game-high two assists. Artur Kondrashov also tallied two points for LVC with the game-winning goal and an assist. Additionally, Ian Lindberg and Artem Kondrashov each logged a goal and an assist during the win. Defensively, goaltender Chris Branch made an impact with 37 saves for Lebanon Valley. 

The Dutchmen and the Cougars (2-12-1, 2-8-1 MAC) battled defensively early in the first period, as each program recorded three shots on goal that were saved during the first 1:41. Lebanon Valley's defense then delivered blocks by Mason Proskin and Cody Walker, as well as four saves by Branch over the next 3:58. Misericordia later began a power play in the seventh minute, and LVC answered with a block by Proskin and four stops by Branch during a successful penalty kill. Offensively, the Flying Dutchmen countered with eight shots on target that were saved in the 3:46 after the conclusion of the power play. During this stretch, Helmer and Troy Andrews each had an attempt saved within 29 seconds in the 12th minute.

Lebanon Valley also started a power play in the 15th minute of the first frame, which led to Helmer, Cameron Croteau, and Lukas Washco each taking a shot that was saved while the squad had a 5-on-4 advantage. The Dutchmen then opened the scoring at the 17:33 mark, taking a 1-0 lead. The program struck first on a goal by Lindberg, courtesy of an assist by Helmer. LVC maintained its one-goal advantage through the end of the period, as each team had one more shot saved during the remaining minutes of the first. Lebanon Valley outshot Misericordia 17-14 during the frame.

The programs competed on the defensive end at the beginning of the second period, as each team had three shots saved during the first 3:19. The Flying Dutchmen put another point on the board at the 4:53 mark, going ahead 2-0. The team added to its lead when Artur Kondrashov sent the puck into the back of the net for a goal, after assists by Artem Kondrashov and Washco. Misericordia followed this with some scoring chances, but Branch posted seven saves for Lebanon Valley over the next 1:44. The Cougars later started a power play in the ninth minute, and LVC posted blocks by Jordan Stear and Proskin while keeping the opposition from putting a shot on target during a successful penalty kill. 

Misericordia also began a power play in the 15th minute of the second period, and Branch made a save during another successful penalty kill for Lebanon Valley. The Dutchmen then started a power play in the 18th minute and capitalized on the one-skater advantage, extending their lead to 3-0 at the 18:01 mark. The program went up by three when Proskin netted a power-play goal, following an excellent pass by Helmer and a secondary assist from Croteau. The Cougars later scored on a short-handed goal by Jaron Ketterman with 46 seconds remaining in the frame, making it a 3-1 contest. Croteau put one more shot on goal for LVC during the final seconds, which was saved at the 19:47 mark while the team was on a power play.

Each program put two shots on goal that were saved during the first 4:33 of the third period. The Dutchmen scored again 4:46 into the frame, claiming a 4-1 advantage. The squad added a point when Artem Kondrashov sent the puck past the goaltender, courtesy of assists by Artur Kondrashov and Lindberg. Lebanon Valley continued to tally shots as the period progressed, registering 10 attempts that were saved over the next 10:05. The program took four of these shots during a power play that began in the 13th minute.

Branch also kept his strong performance going, making more saves for LVC at the 15:23, 16:40, and 17:40 marks. Lebanon Valley then found the net again 17:50 into the third period, going up 5-1 on an unassisted, empty net goal by Helmer. This would stand as the final score, as Branch helped secure the victory for the Dutchmen by stopping the final shot he faced at the 18:50 mark. LVC outshot Misericordia 16-8 in the third period. 

Inside the Box Score

• Artur Kondrashov recorded a season-high two points, scoring his second goal of the year and assisting Artem Kondrashov's goal. Artur Kondrashov's goal also marked his second game-winner of the campaign.
• Helmer registered a game-high and tied a career-high with three points, scoring his fifth goal of the year and matching a career-high two assists. The senior's total in assists also marked a game-high and brought his team-leading total to 10 this season. Helmer tied a game-high six shots on goal as well. 
• Artem Kondrashov also tallied a season-high two points, netting his first career goal and dishing out an assist on Artur Kondrashov's game-winning goal. He had a season-high two blocks on the defensive end as well. 
• Lindberg recorded a career-high two points with his first career goal and an assist on Artem Kondrashov's goal. 
• Proskin scored his second goal of the season. The fifth year also blocked a game-high four shots, matching his career-high. 
• Washco also assisted Artur Kondrashov's game-winning goal, marking his first assist of the season. The senior won a season-high nine faceoffs as well. 
• Croteau dished out an assist on Proskin's goal, while tying a game-high and career-high with six shots on goal. The senior went 3-0 on faceoff opportunities as well. 
• Branch made 37 saves for LVC. 
• Lebanon Valley outshot Misericordia 45-38.
• Defensively, the Flying Dutchmen had an 11-7 advantage in blocked shots.
• LVC had a 38-33 advantage in faceoff victories. 
• Max Kontir won a game-high 13 faceoffs.

Up Next
Lebanon Valley will return to action on Friday, Jan. 23, at 7 p.m., when the team will travel to take on Stevenson University for the first of two matchups next weekend at Reisterstown Sportsplex in Reisterstown, Md.  

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