ANNVILLE, Pa. - The Wilkes University men's ice hockey team suffered their first conference loss of the season to the Lebanon Valley College Flying Dutchmen 3-2 Friday night at the Hershey Arena.

The Colonels drop to 3-1-1 on the season and 2-1 in conference play, while the Dutchmen improve to 1-4 and 1-2 in conference play.

Both teams were held scoreless through the first 20 minutes of action. Wilkes outshot LVC 15-9 and went on the power play once in the period, but came up empty handed thanks to strong play from Dutchmen goaltender Chris Branch.

The game stayed scoreless in the second period for almost eight minutes until Cade Helmer's goal off an assist from Troy Andrews and Jesse Shogan gave the Dutchmen a 1-0 lead. However, just 36 seconds later the Colonels tied the game with a Matt Carlson (Delmar, NY/) goal off an assist from Liam O'Donoghue (Canonsburg, PA). 

Soon after, a Trevor Belak (Pittsburgh, PA) holding penalty gave LVC a power play chance, and John King made the Colonels pay with a goal that put the Dutchmen out in front 2-1 with 6:43 to go in the period.

With their backs against the wall to start the third period, Christian Blomquist (Wauwatosa, WI/) delivered for the Colonels with a game-tying goal by circling through the defense to get the shot he needed. However, the Dutchmen went back on the power play after a Caiden Mech (San Clemente, CA) holding penalty, and this time Reece McDonald hammered home what ended up being the game-winning goal with 11:19 to play. Wilkes was unable to score for the remainder of regulation and LVC held on for the win.

The Colonels outshot the Dutchmen 40-31 and won the faceoff battle 38-29, but went 0-4 on the power play while the Dutchmen went 2-3 on the power play. Individually, Carlson led Wilkes' offense with a goal and assist on the night, Blomquist finished the game with one goal himself, and O'Donoghue finished with the team's lone assist. For the Dutchmen, Helmer led the way with one goal and one assist, and got some help from King and McDonald who each scored a goal. 

Goaltender Duncan Rolleman (New Hamburg, ON/) made 28 saves in net for Wilkes and allowed three goals, but Branch made 38 saves in net for LVC while allowing just two goals.

The Colonels look to bounce back against the Dutchmen tomorrow at 4 p.m. with a chance to even up the weekend series at one win a piece.