WILKES-BARRE, Pa. ­­– Anton Petrovskiy scored his first career goal for the Lebanon Valley College men's ice hockey team, as the program dropped a hard-fought 4-2 contest to Wilkes University on Friday, Jan. 30 at the Toyota SportsPlex.

The Dutchmen (5-12-2, 5-8-2 MAC) and the Colonels (10-6-3, 7-6-2 MAC) traded shots early in the game, as each squad had an attempt saved during the first 1:29. Wilkes followed this with some offensive opportunities, but goaltender Chris Branch delivered five saves, and Cameron Croteau recorded a block for LVC during the next 7:39. Lebanon Valley countered with two shots on target by Owen Ames, which were saved at the 10:05 and 11:18 marks. Branch also kept working to limit the opposition as the first frame rolled on, coming through with more stops for the Flying Dutchmen at the 11:26 and 12:02 marks. 

Lukas Washco then created a scoring chance for LVC, sending a shot toward the net that was saved 15:05 in the first period. Max Kontir contributed to these efforts as well, registering an attempt that was saved at the 17:09 mark. Back on the defensive end, Branch made five more saves for Lebanon Valley during the rest of the period, including three stops within 37 seconds in the 19th minute. The Dutchmen also put three shots on goal during this stretch, as Jack Foote, Dan Cardozo, and Croteau each had a try saved during the final minute.

Lebanon Valley opened the scoring just 2:02 into the second period, taking a 1-0 lead over Wilkes. The team struck first when Petrovskiy found the net for his first goal, courtesy of an assist by Washco. The Colonels followed this with eight shots on goal during the next 5:16, and Branch made a save on each attempt. Wilkes then began a power play in the ninth minute, and the program tied the contest at 1-1 with a power-play goal by Nate Terski at the 8:42 mark. The Dutchmen then began a power play in the 10th minute, which led to Jordan Stear taking a shot that was saved. Another penalty on the Colonels just 49 seconds into the power play prompted LVC to have a 5-on-3 advantage, and Cade Helmer logged an attempt that was saved during this stretch. 

Lebanon Valley remained aggressive offensively as the second period progressed, putting nine shots on goal that were saved over the next 4:45. The program recorded seven of these attempts during a power play that started in the 14th minute, including two shots by Mason Proskin. Wilkes then attempted six shots during the next 2:09, which resulted in five saves by Branch and a block by John King for LVC. The Dutchmen later reclaimed the lead with 52 seconds remaining in the frame, going up 2-1 on an unassisted goal by Croteau. The Colonels followed this with a shot attempt with just five seconds to go, but Ian Lindberg posted a block for Lebanon Valley.

Wilkes found the net again 1:24 into the third period on a goal by Jack Lee, tying the game at 2-2. Branch kept battling as the frame went on, making three saves for the Dutchmen within 50 seconds in the fourth minute. LVC responded with a shot on target by Aidan Bright, which was saved at the 4:29 mark. The Colonels then began a power play in the seventh minute and took a 3-2 advantage on a power-play goal by Carter Jordan at the 6:28 mark. 

Wilkes proceeded put nine shots on goal during the next 11:29, and Branch came through with saves for Lebanon Valley on all nine tries. Offensively, Helmer and Joey Pankowski also put shots on target for the Flying Dutchmen during this stretch. The Colonels later added a tally 19:08 into the third period on an empty net goal by Matt Carlson, prompting 4-2 to be the final score. 

Inside the Box Score

• Petrovskiy scored his first career goal. 
• Croteau netted his second goal of the campaign, marking his fourth consecutive game with at least one point. The senior also led the team with five shots on goal and blocked one shot.
• Washco was credited with his third assist of the year on Petrovskiy's goal. The senior also won a season-high 10 faceoffs while blocking a game-high three shots, which tied a season-high.  
• Branch made a game-high 41 saves. 
• Lebanon Valley put 28 shots on goal. 
• The Flying Dutchmen blocked 11 shots on the defensive end. 
• LVC tallied 34 faceoff victories. 
• Kontir posted a game-high 16 faceoff wins, matching a career-high.
• King also won five faceoffs while blocking two shots. 
• Tanner Tolliver, Jesse Shogan, Proskin, Ames, and Lindberg each blocked a shot as well. 

Up Next
The Dutchmen will return to the ice tomorrow, Saturday, Jan. 31, at 4 p.m., when the program will host Arcadia University at Hersheypark Arena. 

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