HERSHEY, Pa. – The Arcadia University men's ice hockey team dropped a Middle Atlantic Conference road contest to Lebanon Valley on Saturday afternoon, falling 3–1. The Knights (7-10-3, 4-9-3) surrendered a late first-period goal to trail 1–0, but evened the score midway through the third period before the Dutchmen answered quickly and sealed the win with a shorthanded, empty-net goal.
Arcadia generated sustained offensive pressure throughout the game, outshooting Lebanon Valley 60–47 and holding a 25–24 edge in shots on goal. The Knights also controlled the faceoff circle, winning 38 draws to the Dutchmen's 25, led by Cody Matsay with 11 wins and Brendan Dicker and Jared Shuter with 10 each. Hayden Williamson got the start in net for Arcadia, making 21 saves while allowing two goals. Special teams proved scoreless for both sides, as Arcadia went 0-for-6 on the power play and Lebanon Valley finished 0-for-4.
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Lebanon Valley broke the scoreless tie late in the first period, sending the Knights into the first intermission trailing 1–0.
• Arcadia ramped up the pressure in the second period, with Jared Shuter and Wesley Crofoot generating early scoring chances.
• Later in the period, Cody Matsay, Grant Burback, Chris Benkovitz, Aidan Anderson, and Michael Benkovitz all had quality opportunities, but the Dutchmen held the Knights off the scoreboard, maintaining a 1–0 lead heading into the third.
• With just under three minutes remaining in regulation, Arcadia found the equalizer when Ryan Cunningham fired a shot wide, Shuter collected the rebound, and Bryce Battaglia finished the play for his eighth goal of the season.
• The tie was short-lived, as Lebanon Valley regained the lead less than a minute later to make it 2–1.
• In the final moments, Arcadia pulled Williamson for the extra attacker and drew a penalty to create a two-man advantage, but Lebanon Valley capitalized with a shorthanded empty-net goal to secure the 3–1 victory.
KNIGHT LEADERS
Goals: Battaglia (1)
Assists: Shuter (1)
Points: Battaglia (1), Shuter (1)
Blocked Shots: Shuter (3), Aidan Anderson (2), Connor Williams (1), Nate McFarlane (1), Zach Biniaris (1)
Saves: Williamson (21)
UP NEXT
The Knights return home to the Hatfield Ice Arena on Friday night to host Alvernia. Puck drop is scheduled for 6 p.m.
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