HERSHEY, Pa. ­­– Addi Alaoui and Anna Dale each scored a goal in less than five minutes at the start of the game, setting the tone for the Lebanon Valley College women's ice hockey team's important 3-0 victory over Alvernia University on Friday, Feb. 20, at Hersheypark Arena. The win marked a key step towards earning home ice in the semifinals of the upcoming Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Championship.

The Flying Dutchmen also celebrated Senior Night on Friday with a pregame ceremony. Before the contest, the program recognized its five seniors: Tiffany Anderson, Mallory Burdick, Chelly Wolff, Hannah Annunziata, and Lilly Newcomer. 

The Dutchmen (18-6-0, 15-5-0 MAC) opened the scoring just 1:34 into the first period, taking a 1-0 lead over the Golden Wolves (12-11-0, 11-10-0 MAC). The program struck first when Alaoui sent the puck into the back of the net for a goal, after assists by Burdick and Camryn Crouch. Alvernia countered with a shot on goal at the 2:07 mark, but goaltender Mia Frisoni was there to make the save for Lebanon Valley. After LVC put four more shots on target that were saved over the next 1:59, the program found the net again to take a 2-0 advantage. The team went ahead by two when Dale scored a goal at the 4:38 mark, courtesy of assists by Sky Campanile and McKayla Romano. 

Lebanon Valley was also productive on the defensive end as the first frame progressed, as Frisoni helped keep the Golden Wolves scoreless with four saves over the next 10:47. Alvernia began a power play during this stretch in the eighth minute, and Frisoni posted a stop during a successful penalty kill for LVC. The programs followed this by going back and forth during the next 2:48, as each squad had three shots saved over this span. Anderson then created an offensive opportunity for the Dutchmen, taking a shot that was saved at the 18:34 mark. The Golden Wolves later took the last three shots of the period, and Frisoni tallied three saves within 29 seconds in the last minute. 

LVC was aggressive offensively at the beginning of the second period, putting seven shots on goal that were saved during the first 4:53 of the frame. During this stretch, Abby Mak and Lauren Pennino each registered an attempt while the program was on a power play. Alvernia followed this with a shot at the 5:08 mark, which resulted in a save by Frisoni. The Flying Dutchmen proceeded to outshoot the opposition 6-0 during the remainder of the period, including tries by Pennino and Dale that were saved while the team was short-handed. Back on the defensive end, Addison Taylert and Norah McCauliffe each had a block for Lebanon Valley during this stretch. 

The Dutchmen had 1:52 left on a power play at the start of the third period, which led to two shots by Dale and an attempt each by Anderson and Pennino. The Golden Wolves then started a power play in the fourth minute, and Frisoni came through with two stops during another successful penalty kill. The goaltender also made two saves within 21 seconds in the sixth minute. Additionally, Frisoni logged a save for LVC at the 7:39 mark when the opposition had a 4-on-3 advantage. Lebanon Valley also kept sending the puck toward the net as the contest went on, as Leela Nemani put a shot on target that was saved at the 10:37 mark. 

Frisoni continued to battle during the third period as well, tallying five saves over the next 2:49. During this stretch, the goaltender made two saves while the opposition had a 5-on-4 advantage, and tallied three stops when the teams were playing 4-on-4. LVC then created some scoring chances, as Laura Radford and Schmidt each took a shot that was saved within five seconds in the 16th minute, while Nemani had a try saved at the 16:09 mark. Alvernia followed this with a shot at the 17:00 mark, but Frisoni made a save for Lebanon Valley.

The Dutchmen tacked on an insurance point 17:44 into the third period, claiming a 3-0 advantage. The team extended its lead when Pennino scored an empty net goal, following an assist by Anderson. The Golden Wolves then pulled their goalie again and started a power play at the end of the 18th minute, prompting the squad to have a 6-on-4 advantage in skaters. During this stretch, Frisoni recorded three saves for Lebanon Valley during a successful penalty kill, helping the program secure its fifth consecutive victory. 

Inside the Box Score

• Alaoui scored her ninth goal of the campaign, which marked her third game-winner of the year. 
• Dale netted her 17th goal of the season, which is tied for the most on the team. The junior also tied for the most shots on goal on the team with five.
• Pennino found the net for the third time this winter. This also marked the first-year's first career empty net goal. 
• Campanile was credited with her fourth assist of the season on Dale's goal. 
• Frisoni recorded 28 saves during her fifth shutout of the campaign. The goaltender matched her own single-season program record for shutouts, as she blanked the opposition five times last year as well.
• Anderson won a game-high and career-high 22 faceoffs, while tallying her 16th assist of the season. She is tied for the most on the team, and her assists total matches her previous single-season program record that was set last year. The senior also tied for the most shots on target on the team with five. 
• Burdick logged her sixth assist of the campaign on Alaoui's game-winning goal.
• Crouch dished out her seventh assist of the winter on the game-winning goal by Alaoui. 
• Romano tallied her seventh assist of the year on Dale's goal, while winning one faceoff.
• Lebanon Valley outshot Alvernia 32-28. 
• Defensively, McCauliffe tied a game-high two blocks, while Taylert had one block. 
• LVC tallied 26 faceoff victories. 

Up Next
Lebanon Valley will close out the regular season tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 21, at 1:30 p.m., when the program will host Stevenson University at Hersheypark Arena. If the Flying Dutchmen win this game in regulation, they will secure the second seed in the MAC Championship. This will prompt the team to host the semifinals at Hersheypark Arena. 

Stay Connected
Be sure to follow @lvcathletics on Instagram, X, and Facebook for the most in-depth coverage of LVC Athletics.