Reading, Pa. (Dec. 2, 2007) – 'The Vern' skated to back to back wins this weekend with convincing victories over Mount St. Mary's College and local rival program Penn State Berks. The Crusader's rolled into Fredericks, Maryland on Saturday evening after a two week hiatus. The Vern may have over extended their visit with a most crooked win which set a club record with goals scored in a single game. The uneven affair saw Alvernia rip twenty goals home in the 20-3 blowout. Sunday's highlighted affair was slightly tamer, although the Crusader's walloped Penn State Berks Div. III Club with a 9-0 battering. The weekend sweep extended the club winning streak to ten games.

 

The struggling Mount team did not match up well, and Alvernia exploited a weak defensive unit. Crusader's offensive highlights included freshman Eric Ryan's (Aston, Pa/Sun Valley HS) first collegiate hat trick. Junior Pete Cirard (Levittown, Pa/Harry Truman HS) had three goals with two assists to lead the scoring effort. Additional multiple goal efforts included freshman Stephen Waricka (Millstone, NJ/Allentown HS), Jeff Bohler (Ephrata, Pa/Ephrata HS), junior Michael Gilmore (Farmington, MN/Eastview HS), Ryan Kelly (Ardmore, Pa/Lower Merion HS) and team goal leader Anthony Froio (Glenolden, Pa/Interboro HS) notched a pair. Goaltender Ammon Morgan (Schwenkesville, Pa/Springford HS) recorded his fifth win of the season.

 

Sunday's featured game with Penn State Berks at the Sovereign Center offered a better brand of hockey. Berks with a strong ice hockey program had to create two teams this season and graduated its Nationally Ranked powerhouse Division III program to a Division I status. The remnants of this team have formed the “newly formed Division III program.” The new division has left the Division III program at a weaker advantage, however still experiencing success in its own realm. Alvernia's beefed up program wasted little time flexing its superiority over the start up Lions team with three periods of dominant hockey. The Vern gained every advantage, out skating, out hitting and ultimately outscoring the PSU squad in a wire-to-wire 9-0 white wash.

 

Goaltender Chris Medico recorded his second career Alvernia shut out for his sixth victory in the pipes. Medico preserved the “goose egg” with dazzling saves on consecutive blue line breakaways with less than five minutes in regulation. The two breakaways were Alvernia's only glaring miscues and Medico stacked the pads and stoned the efforts. Steve Waricka scored the game winner at the seven minute mark of the first period. Line mate Michael Bonaskiewich (Plymouth Meeting, Pa / Archbishop Carrol) carried the puck over the offensive blue line while unleashing a wrist shot from the left circle while Waricka crashed the cage hard and poked in a rebound. Waricka later added an assist on Bonaskiewich's tally, also in the first period. The Vern notched a four spot on PSU in the opening frame with freshman Josh Cohen (Pottstown, Pa/Coventry Christian HS) finding some loose garbage in front and stuffing it home. Offensive stand out Froio found twine in the period to round off the scoring.

 

The second period intensified as PSU Berks desperately attempted to mount some offense fire power with little success. The Crusader's continued the attack with another four goal period. The second period light-lampers included goals from Cohen, Froio, Gilmore and Devon Coleman (Hamilton, NY/Hamilton HS). Coleman's memorable top shelf effort jarred the water bottle loose and sent the home bench into frenzy. Jeff Bohler factored in two assists while punching home the lone third period goal. Bohler's well rounded performance included good playmaking combined with disruptive open ice body checks. The Vern's increased physical presence and puck movement effectively turned the lights out on PSU in the final period.

 

Did You Notice:

 

Michael Bonaskiewich scored his first collegiate goal on Saturday night and then scored a wrap around stuffer on Sunday.

 

Ian MacMillan launched a center ice dump in shot that finished high over the glove side. Coach Plue said he was screened?

 

Alvernia recorded two “W's in less than 24 hours.  

 

Coach O'Connell likened Medico's Penalty Box Laughter to that of an adolescent pajama party. Schlegel laughed, at least someone has a sense of humor.

 

Coach Kelly never did identify Sundays “Grocery Stick” recipient?  

 

Special Team Kudos :

 

Medico Stoned Two Clean PSU breakaways in en route to his 16 saves.

 

Howard Bates continues to rattle bird cages while staying out of the box.