HERSHEY PARK, Pa. — Host Lebanon Valley built a 3-0 first-period lead and Nazareth couldn’t recover as the Dutchmen went on to take a 5-2 men’s hockey victory over the Golden Flyers in a United Collegiate Hockey Conference game at Hershey Park Arena.
After defeating Chatham, 3-1, Friday, the Golden Flyers had to settle for a weekend split of their road conference games and now stand at 3-4 overall and 2-2 in conference games. Lebanon Valley enjoyed a four-point weekend after also defeating Utica Friday. The Dutchmen are 2-3-1 overall and 2-1-1 in the UCHC.
In a game that included 54 minutes in penalties — 34 for Nazareth and 20 for LVC — the Dutchmen converted on four power plays, while both of Nazareth’s goals came with extra skaters.
Even though Nazareth had a 35-27 edge in shots on goal, it was Lebanon Valley that dominated the first-period action. Brett Johnson scored the first two goals that came exactly three minutes apart midway through the opening period. The first goal came at 9:45 and was the only even-strength tally of the game as TJ Sneath assisted. Then at 12:45, with Nazareth’s Casey Kubara in the penalty box on a boarding infraction, Johnson scored again with assists from Bryan Hovanec and Jared Karas.
Lebanon Valley scored again late in the first period and midway through the second — both on 5-on-3 power play advantages — to build an insurmountable 4-0 lead. Nazareth’s Cody Antonini and Mateo Capriotti each were whistled for minor penalties at 14:31 of the first and LVC converted again with Kevin Van Bokkelen scoring the power play goal.
The Golden Flyers found themselves at a similar disadvantage at 9:41 of the second when Antonini and goaltender Michael Tilford were called for simultaneous minors. Just 15 seconds later, Cole Hepler scored for LVC with Hovanec and Karas assisting again.
Nazareth finally got on the board on a power play of its own at 15:57 of the second when freshman Ray Falso scored for the second time on the weekend off an assist from J.R. Wojciechowski. The teams then exchanged power play goals in the third with Hepler picking up his second goal of the game for LVC and Oliver Janzen converting for Nazareth with assists from Falso and Brian Miller.
Tilford made the start in goal for Nazareth and had 22 saves, while Joe Eisenhower made 33 saves for the Dutchmen.
Nazareth plays again on the road Tuesday at Trinity, Conn. at 7:30 p.m.
