REISTERSTOWN, Md. ­­– Cameron Croteau and Mason Proskin each netted a goal for the Lebanon Valley College men's ice hockey team, as the program battled valiantly while dropping a 5-2 decision to Stevenson University on Friday, Jan. 23 at the Reisterstown Sportsplex. 

The Dutchmen recorded the first shot on goal of the game, as Artem Kondrashov had an attempt saved two minutes into the first period. The Mustangs countered with some offensive opportunities, but goaltender Dario Cantini responded with five saves for LVC over the next 3:01. Stevenson then opened the scoring 5:29 into the contest, taking a 1-0 lead on a goal by Gage Parillo. Lebanon Valley's defense kept working to limit the opposition as the frame went on, as Cantini logged a save while Max Kontir, Lukas Washco, and Collin Nolan each blocked a shot during the next 3:51. The Flying Dutchmen followed this with a shot by Dan Cardozo, which was saved at the 10:08 mark.

The Mustangs found the net again 10:51 into the first period, taking a 2-0 advantage on a goal by Blake Benson. Lebanon Valley also continued to create scoring chances as the frame progressed, as Jordan Stear and Jesse Shogan each had a shot saved within seven seconds in the 14th minute. Stevenson then began a power play in the 15th minute, but LVC answered with three saves by Cantini during a successful penalty kill. This was followed by the Dutchmen registering the last shot of the first period, as Cade Helmer had a try saved with 32 seconds left. 

Lebanon Valley kept sending the puck toward the net when the second period got underway, as Croteau put two shots on target that were saved while Proskin had an attempt saved during the first 1:20 of the frame. The Mustangs then scored on a goal by Parillo at the 1:50 mark, taking a 3-0 lead. Stevenson proceeded to put five shots on goal over the next 3:38, and Cantini came through with saves on each try. Kontir followed this by taking a shot for LVC, which was saved at the 6:13 mark. 

The Mustangs added another tally 7:24 into the second, making it a 4-0 contest on a goal by Jack Karlsson. The programs proceeded to trade offensive opportunities over the next 7:13, as Cantini saved four shots by Stevenson while Lebanon Valley put three shots on goal. During this stretch, Helmer took a shot while Stear logged two attempts for LVC. The Mustangs later began power plays in the 16th and 18th minutes, and Cantini posted six saves for the Dutchmen during a pair of successful penalty kills. 

Lebanon Valley took three shots that were saved during the first 1:09 of the third period, including an attempt by Helmer while the squad finished a power play. Stevenson then started a power play in the second minute, and LVC's defense came through with a save by Cantini and a block by Stear during a successful penalty kill. Later in the frame, the Flying Dutchmen began another power play in the eighth minute, which prompted Stear to put a shot on goal that was saved at the 7:23 mark. 

The Dutchmen got on the board 8:15 into the third period, narrowing the score to 4-1 when each team had four skaters on the ice. The program scored its first goal of the night when Croteau sent the puck into the back of the net, courtesy of assists by Proskin and Helmer. The Mustangs responded with a goal by Greg Spitznagel when the squads were playing 4-on-4 hockey, going up 5-1. Lebanon Valley later scored again at the 11:52 mark, making it a 5-2 contest. Proskin netted a goal when the team had a 5-on-3 advantage, following assists by Stear and Kontir. Back on the defensive end, Cantini proceeded to make three more saves for LVC during the rest of the period. Artur Kondrashov then took the last shot of the game for the Flying Dutchmen at the 17:58 mark, which was saved. Lebanon Valley outshot Stevenson 10-7 in the final frame.  

Inside the Box Score

• Proskin tied a game-high and career-high two points with his third goal of the season and an assist on Croteau's goal. 
• Croteau scored his first goal of the campaign.
• Stear dished out his fourth assist of the year on Proskin's goal. He also had a game-high and career-high six shots on target. 
• Kontir was credited with an assist on Proskin's goal, marking his fifth of the season. The sophomore also led the team with 13 faceoff wins, while blocking one shot on the defensive end. 
• Helmer dished out his team-leading 11th assist of the campaign on Croteau's goal. 
• Cantini made a game-high 31 saves in his collegiate debut. 
• Lebanon Valley recorded 26 shots on goal. 
• Defensively, the Dutchmen had an 11-4 advantage in blocked shots. 
• Nolan also blocked two shots on the defensive end. 
• LVC tallied 29 faceoff victories. 

Up Next
The Dutchmen will return to action tomorrow, Saturday, Jan. 24, at 3 p.m., when the program will take on the Mustangs again at the Reisterstown Sportsplex.

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