BOX SCORE

Reading, Pa. (Nov. 1, 2006) – Alvernia College senior Becky Macchione (Richland, PA/Conrad Weiser) tipped home the first goal of the day in the 12th minute to spark the second-seeded Crusaders to a 3-0 win over #3 College Misericordia Wednesday afternoon in a Pennsylvania Athletic Conference semifinal at Alvernia.

            The Crusaders (18-3), defending champions of the PAC, advanced to their third straight conference final and will play at #1 Eastern Saturday at a time to be determined.  Eastern advanced with a 5-2 win over #4 Wesley College Wednesday afternoon and set up a rematch of the 2005 Championship won by Alvernia, 4-3 in overtime.

            Macchione whistled a shot wide in the early going on Thursday in a scoreless game and redirected a drive from senior Jessie Titus (Leesport, PA/Schuylkill Valley) to open the scoring in the at 11:35.  The tally was Macchione’s 22nd of the season and 93rd of her career moving her into 10th place by herself on the Division III career points list at 216.

            Junior back Lauren Yoder (Fleetwood, PA/Oley Valley) put the Crusaders up 2-0 on a penalty stroke in the 14th minute.  Alvernia junior Amber Landis (Ephrata, PA/Ephrata) nearly put the Crusaders up 2-0 shortly after Macchione’s goal, but CM defender Nicole Smtih (Lehighton, PA/Lehighton) cleared the ball off the line.  Alvernia kept up the pressure and drove in another shot that a Cougar (14-6) defender stopped with a foot setting up Yoder’s stroke.

            Alvernia earned six of its nine penalty corners in the opening half and held a 2-0 lead at the break.  The Crusaders took nine shots in the first 35 minutes and held the Cougars without a shot.

            Alvernia kept up the pressure coming out of the halftime break earning all three second half penalty corners in the first 12 minutes of the half.  Misericordia cleared each of the first two, but Titus connected on the third assisted by Landis to put the hosts up 3-0.

            CM took a timeout following the Titus goal and started to build pressure with its first shot of the day which Alvernia starter Audrey Hoffman (Mertztown, PA/Brandywine Heights) easily turned away.  Alvernia finished the day with a 15-1 advantage in shots and a 9-3 edge in corners.  Misericordia senior Jamie Derr (McEwesville, PA/Warrior Run) played 56 minutes and made nine saves.  Hoffman finished the day with just one save.

            The start time for Saturday’s PAC Championship will be determined once the PAC Finals for men’s and women’s soccer are determined.

#2 Alvernia 3, #3 Misericordia 0