Reading, Pa. (February 17, 2007) - The Crusader’s made easy work of a struggling American University Eagles squad. Alvernia completed the two game season series sweep with a convincing victory led by Captain Ryan Kelly’s (Ardmore, PA/Lower Merion HS) four goal performance. Kelly’s offensive streak has produced ten goals over the last four games. The second line accounted for six goals Saturday, with Kelly’s linemates Billy Heller (Reamstown, PA/Cocalico HS) and Pete Cirard (Levittown, PA/Truman HS) chipping in with one goal each.
Kelly opened the scoring less than two minutes into the contest with a beautiful one timer off the stick of Heller. Heller moving just inside the right wing circle spotted Kelly crashing the slot, and flipped a pass directly across the slot and Kelly followed the puck home uncontested for the quick lead. Heller was not done table setting when only 40 seconds later he fed freshman Michael Gilhool (Boothwyn, Pa./Chichester HS) who deposited his third goal of the season. Defenseman Steve Schlegel (Philadelphia, PA/Conwell Egan HS) followed with a nice snap shot from the top of the right circle that found the inside of the bottom piping of the American University net. The Vern skated into the first intermission with a comfortable 5-2 lead.
The second period saw more of the same with the Crusaders firing home two goals. Sophomore Michael Gilmore (Farmington, MN/Eastview HS) sent a slap shot that rattled around the top iron over the glove side shoulder. Gilmore accepted a pass across the blue line from defensive mate Brent Reed (Hamburg, PA/Hamburg HS) and walked the puck just inside the right circle firing home a bullet slap shot. Gilmore adds yet another scoring weapon on Alvernia’s blue line squad. The second period was peppered with eleven penalties that hampered the pace of the game. The Crusaders had a commanding 7-3 lead entering the third period.
The closing period was uneventful with the Vern systematically handling the Eagles with good puck movement winding the clock down. Heller sent a backhand upstairs cutting across the low slot for his fifth goal of the season. Bruce Hawthorne pushed the Crusaders to double digits on the scoreboard with some quick puck movement inside the American crease.
Alvernia now breaks for two weeks and returns for back to back games to close the season March 3rd and 4th. Dickinson College on the road, followed by Bucknell University @ the Sovereign Center in Downtown Reading.
Did You Notice:
The ten goal output marked the fourth time this season the Vern registered a 10 spot
Forward Matt Iamurri arguably the smallest player on the roster wanted to go with American’s big body enforcer. Visions of Dean Youngblood and Racki Revival.
Conor Delaney playing his Senior Campaign joined the P.K Unit without the consent of Coach J.K. Overruled.
Coach Plue not visible on the bench. Coach Scogna might have fudged the number’s with his poison pen.
