#1 Alvernia Wins First PAC Title On Titus Goal 12 Seconds Into OT

Sophomore Midfielder Amber Landis Named Championship MVP

Reading, PA (Nov. 5, 2005) – Alvernia College scored in the second minute of the first half, the second minute of the second half, and junior Jessie Titus (Leesport, PA/Schuylkill Valley) smacked home the game-winner 12 seconds into overtime as top-seeded Alvernia College won its first Pennsylvania Athletic Conference Field Hockey Championship with a 4-3 decision over #5 Eastern University Saturday afternoon at Alvernia.

Junior Megan Novogratz (Allentown, PA/Central Catholic) took a drop pass from Titus to start thee 7-on-7, overtime period and dribbled straight into the circle. Her pass from the right side of the circle eluded the final Eastern defender and Titus delivered a sprawling backhander that bounced past Kelly Garland (Lanhartsville, PA/Kutztown) to put the Crusaders (17-3) into the NCAA Division III Tournament for the first time in school history.

2005 PAC Championship MVP Amber Landis

Sophomore midfielder Amber Landis (Ephrata, PA/Ephrata) who tallied a goal in both playoff games for the Crusaders was named the 2005 PAC Championship MVP. Her fourth goal of the season gave the hosts a 2-0 lead early in the second half and her ability to control the midfield was crucial to the Crusaders’ success.

The Crusaders, who ran their home record to 11-0 this season, tallied early markers in each of the two Championship victories. Titus scored in under two minutes in the 4-0 win over Neumann College in Wednesday’s semifinal, and sophomore forward Shayna Clark (Leesport, PA/Schuylkill Valley) picked an opportune time for her first goal of the season banging home the first of two assists for Novogratz 1:07 into Saturday’s final.

The hosts seemed to control much of the early play, but did not generate many more first-half scoring opportunities after the opening goal. Eastern (10-12) applied pressure during the latter stages of the first half, but senior goalie Carey Manzolillo (Bernville, PA/Governor Mifflin), who finished with nine saves, made a series of saves late in the opening frame and the Eagles fanned on a corner attempt with no time left on the first-half clock.

Landis put Alvernia up 2-0 just 1:20 into the second half scoring an unassisted goal. The Eagles cut the deficit in half with 24:07 left in regulation when sophomore Stephanie Moyer (Telford, PA/Christopher Dock) scored on a corner play assisted by Lisa Bitterlich (Blue Bell, PA/Wissahicken) and June Brandt (Manheim, PA/Manheim Central).

Once again the Crusaders scored within two minutes of the restart. The offense generated several scoring chances in rapid succession on a corner play with the official finally granting a penalty stroke when the ball hit the body of an Eastern defender on the way into the net. Sophomore back Lauren Yoder (Fleetwood, PA/Oley Valley) flicked the ball past Garland to restore the Crusaders’ two-goal cushion with 22:32 left to play.

Three minutes later it was the Eagles generating quick offense. Manzolillo denied a point blank shot near the right post, but the rebound caromed right to junior Emily Davis (Strasburg, PA/Lancaster Christian) who pulled the Eagles back within one with her ninth goal of the season. The Crusaders held the one-goal lead into the final minutes of regulation until Moyer ripped a restart from outside the circle that Davis tipped home to tie the score at 3-3 with 3:15 left in regulation.

Co-captain Novogratz informed her team that they had won the overtime coin toss and took the ball to start the overtime which, considering the recent success on restarts, proved to be the right decision.

Alvernia will await the decision of who it plays and where in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The game will be on Wednesday and the Crusaders will be on the road. The selection call will be completed sometime on Sunday.

#1 Alvernia 4, #5 Eastern 3 (OT)

Eastern (10-12) vs. Alvernia College (17-3)

Date: Nov 05, 2005 Attendance: 250

Weather: Sunny, 68 degrees, winds E at 2 mph

Goals by period 1 2 OT Tot

----------------------------------

Eastern............. 0 3 0 - 3

Alvernia College.... 1 2 1 - 4

SCORING SUMMARY:

1. 1:07 ACFH Shayna Clark (1) (Megan Novogratz)

2. 1:20 ACFH Amber Landis (4) (unassisted)

3. 45:53 EUFH Stephanie Moyer (4) (Lisa Bitterlich;June Brandt)

4. 47:28 ACFH Lauren Yoder (5) (Penalty shot)

5. 50:15 EUFH Emily Davis (9) (unassisted)

6. 3:15 EUFH Emily Davis (10) (Stephanie Moyer)

7. 70:12 ACFH Jesse Titus (12) (Megan Novogratz)

Shots: Eastern 13, Alvernia College 14

Saves: Eastern 4 (Kelly Garland 4), Alvernia College 9 (Carey Manzolilo 9)

Print Friendly Version