Hershey, Pa. (February 18th, 2023) - Two late goals in the third period helped Lebanon Valley College (3-20-2, 2-17-1) defeat Alvernia University (8-15-2, 6-13-1) 4-3, in UCHC men's ice hockey action Saturday night at Lebanon Valley. 

The contest marked the conclusion of the inaugural regular season for the Alvernia Men's Ice Hockey program. Alvernia will now move into UCHC postseason play with the quarterfinals on Wednesday.

The Dutchmen got on the board first just six minutes into the first period when Tyler Fittro and Brad Viola assisted Darion Benchich who found the back of the net to give Lebanon Valley an early 1-0 lead. 

The Dutchmen fired 14 shots in the final 14 minutes in the first period with six being shots on target but Alvernia's Colin Cain kept the Dutchmen from scoring as LVC took a 1-0 advantage into the first intermission. 

The Golden Wolves fired ten shots in the first nine minutes before Isaac Chapman leveled the score at one after an assist from Logan vande Meerakker to tie the game with ten minutes left in the second period. 

Lebanon Valley fired ten shots in the next five minutes before Tanner Tolliver found the back of the net to give the Dutchmen a one goal lead, 2-1 with 6:45 left in the period. 

Alvernia fired five shots in the final six minutes of the second period but could not find the equalizer as the Dutchmen went into the final intermission with a 2-1 lead. 

The Golden Wolves sent ten shots toward the LVC goal in the first ten minutes of the final period but LVC goalie Ty Franchi saved seven of them to preserve the one goal lead. 

Lebanon Valley extended its lead to 3-1 with seven minutes left to go in the final period when Eric Malcarney buried the puck into the back of the net to put the Dutchmen up two. 

Alvernia pulled one back when a loose puck fell to the stick of Riley Egan in the center of the ice, Egan then buried the puck into the back of the net to cut the Dutchmen lead to 3-2 with five minutes left in the period. 

Lebanon Valley pushed its lead to two when Viola netted an empty net goal to make it 4-2 Dutchmen with a minute left in the game. 

Matthew Davies grabbed one back for the Golden Wolves in the final ten seconds of the game but it was not enough as the Dutchmen secured a 4-3 victory. 

Cain finished with 32 saves in net for the Golden Wolves. 

Alvernia was led by Egan with a goal and an assist, Chapman and Davies also netted goals. Jason Finan and Gabriel Malek both tallied a team high four shots on goal and Hunter Alden led the team with 13 face off wins. 

The Golden Wolves are back in action on Wednesday for a UCHC playoff hockey matchup. Alvernia's opponent will be determined tomorrow following the conclusion of the Utica vs. Arcadia series.