Box Score

Reading, PA (Nov. 2, 2005) – Junior forward Jessie Titus (Leesport, PA/Schuylkill Valley) scored a pair of first-half goals and senior goalie Carey Manzolillo (Bernville, PA/Governor Mifflin) made seven saves as top-seeded Alvernia College advanced to its second straight Pennsylvania Athletic Conference Field Hockey Final with a 4-0 win over #6 Neumann College Wednesday afternoon at Alvernia.

            The Crusaders (16-3), who lost 2-0 to Wesley College in the 2004 Final in Dover, Del., will face #5 Eastern University Saturday at 2:00 p.m. at Alvernia.  The winner of Saturday’s game will receive the PAC’s automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.

            Titus, who tallied the only goal in Alvernia’s 1-0 win over Neumann in the regular season, opened the scoring just over a minute into the game.  Junior back Melissa Senick (Reading, PA/Central Catholic) blasted a shot from the top of the circle that Titus redirected past Neumann keeper Chelsea Ward (Willingboro, NJ/Rancocas Valley) to put the Crusaders up 1-0.

            Titus was at it again 15 minutes later converting a pass from Laura Bilger (Reading, PA/Governor Mifflin) to give the hosts a 2-0 lead.  Alvernia enjoyed an 11-4 advantage in shots in the opening half and racked up nine of its 17 penalty corner before the break.

            Alvernia took a 3-0 advantage seven minutes into the second half when junior Megan Novogratz (Allentown, PA/Central Catholic) pushed home her 19th goal of the season in the 43rd minute.  Sophomore midfielder Amber Landis (Ephrata, PA/Ephrata) closed the scoring for Crusaders redirecting Lauren Yoder’s (Fleetwood, PA/Oley Valley) drive with 13:31 to play.

            The fifth-seeded Eagles advanced to Saturday’s PAC Final with a 4-3 overtime win at #2 Cabrini College Wednesday.  Alvernia beat Eastern, 2-1, during the regular season, in a game that started on campus at Eastern but moved to Rosemont College late in the first half due to poor field conditions.

#1 Alvernia 4, #6 Neumann 0

 Neumann College (7-13) vs. Alvernia College (16-3)

 Date: Nov 02, 2005  Attendance: 125

 Weather: Sunny, 61 degrees, winds NW at 10-20 mph

 Goals by period       1  2  Tot

 -------------------------------

 Neumann College.....  0  0 -  0

 Alvernia College....  2  2 -  4

 SCORING SUMMARY:

  1.   1:42 ACFH Jesse Titus (10) (Melissa Senick)

  2.  16:48 ACFH Jesse Titus (11) (Laura Bilger)

  3.  42:29 ACFH Megan Novogratz (29) (unassisted)

  4.  56:29 ACFH Amber Landis (3) (Lauren Yoder)

 Shots: Neumann College 8, Alvernia College 19

 Saves: Neumann College 9 (Chelsea Ward 7; Dena Riehl 2), Alvernia

 College 7 (Carey Manzolilo 7)

 #1 Alvernia advances to the PAC Final for the second year in a row and will host #5

 Eastern, a 4-3 winner over #2 Cabrini in overtime.

 PAC Final will be Saturday, Nov. 5, 2:00 p.m. @ Alvernia.