HERSHEY, Pa. – Joona Rikkinen recorded a game-high 13 faceoff victories for the Lebanon Valley College men's ice hockey team in its season opener, as the program dropped a 7-0 decision to SUNY Morrisville on Friday, Oct. 30, at Hersheypark Arena.
The Dutchmen (0-1-0) began a power play in the second minute of the first period, which led to shots on goal by
Zach Hahn and
Owen Ames that were saved. The Mustangs (1-0-0) countered with shots at the 3:48, 4:11, 4:37, and 5:10 marks, and Lebanon Valley responded with saves by goaltender
Dario Cantini on each attempt. SUNY Morrisville later scored on a goal by Ethan Henry at the 8:24 mark and a goal by Harrison Kramer at the 8:30 mark, taking a 2-0 lead.
The Flying Dutchmen kept working to generate offensive opportunities as the first period progressed, registering a 7-2 advantage in shots over the next 6:25. During this stretch, Hahn,
Max Kontir, and
Ryan Bernard each put shots on target that were saved during a power play. The Mustangs then found the net again 15:57 into the contest, taking a 3-0 advantage on a goal by Jack Nolan. The programs proceeded to go back and forth during the rest of the frame, as each team put two shots on goal that were saved.
Lebanon Valley created a scoring chance early in the second period, as
Zach Nicholls took a shot that was saved 50 seconds into the frame. SUNY Morrisville then scored at the 2:40 mark on a power-play goal by Kramer and at the 5:40 mark on a goal by Caden Sutter, going up 5-0.
The Dutchmen continued to battle as the frame went on, outshooting the opposition 15-2 over the next 12:40. During this stretch, Hahn,
John King, and
Broden Wood each put shots on target, and
Joey Pankowski had two attempts saved while the program was on power plays. The Mustangs later added a tally at the 19:38 mark, advancing the score to 6-0 on a short-handed goal by Sutter.
LVC registered the first shot of the third period, as
Gabriel Grobanopoulos sent a puck toward the net that was saved 20 seconds into the frame. SUNY Morrisville countered with shots at the 0:50, 1:49, and 2:11 marks, and the Dutchmen responded with saves by goaltender
James Mikos. The teams followed this by going back and forth, as each squad logged three shots over the next 7:26. The Mustangs then scored on a power-play goal by Connor Santay at the 10:06 mark, making it a 7-0 game.
SUNY Morrisville recorded more shots 11:00 and 14:09 into the third period, and Mikos made a pair of saves. The Flying Dutchmen later started a power play with 33 seconds left, which led to Wood putting a shot on target. Ultimately, the score was maintained through the end of the contest.
Inside the Box Score
- Lebanon Valley outshot SUNY Morrisville 36-32.
- Rory Booth, Devin Schaeffer, Wood, Grobanopoulos, Ames, Pankowski, Hahn, and King tied for the team lead in shots on goal with three each.
- LVC had a 41-30 advantage in faceoff victories.
- Rikkinen registered a game-high 13 faceoff victories.
- Defensively, the Dutchmen blocked 10 shots.
- Ian Lindberg and Grobanopoulos tied for the team lead in blocks with two each.
- Cantini made 17 saves.
- Mikos tallied the first eight saves of his collegiate career.
Up Next
The Dutchmen will return to action tomorrow, Saturday, Oct. 31, at 4 p.m., when the program will host the Mustangs again at Hersheypark Arena.
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