BOX SCORE

Reading, Pa. (Oct. 11, 2008) - Junior forward Adam Lush (Reading, Pa./Muhlenberg) netted his first two goals of the season including the game-winner with three minutes to play as Alvernia University (4-7-1, 2-1) knocked off preseason favorite DeSales University (5-8, 1-1), 3-2 Saturday afternoon in Freedom Conference men's soccer action at Sovereign Bank Sports Park.

It was the first conference loss for the two-time defending champions since a 1-0 loss at Wilkes on October 14, 2006, a span stretching 13 games.

Lush got things going on Saturday converting a pass from sophomore Morgan Davidheiser (Boyertown, Pa./Boyertown) in the 10th minute.  The Crusaders pushed the ball forward to Davidheiser in the midfield and he sent Lush in alone on DSU keeper Kevin Lawrence with an excellent through ball.  Lush collected himself behind the defense and burried the shot under a sliding Lawrence and inside the far post.

DSU answered 15 minutes later with junior Dustin Sturm dribbled around the Crusader defense near the right endline and cut the ball back to Andrew Marshall who celebrated his first goal of the season that knotted the score at 1-1.

The game went to halftime at the same score and the Bulldogs needed little time in the second to forge ahead.  The roles were reversed this time with Marshall shooting a pass across the goal mouth that Sturm converted to give the guests their first lead, 2-1 with 40 minutes to play.

Alvernia answered back stealing some momentum but struggled to put a ball on net until senior forward Ryan Rutherford (Fleetwood, Pa./Fleetwood) hit a perfectly placed shot to knot the score at 2-2.  The 5-10 winger possessed a ball into the middle of the field cutting from the right side and ripped a shot just as he passed a screenign teammate that rattled inside the top left corner for his second tally of the season with 31 minutes still to play in the game.

The Crusaders held the balance of possession for the next 20 minutes, but the back and forth action was wearing on both teams, and Lush capitalized on that with three minutes to play.  This time it was Rutherford who sent Lush in alone on net with a similar pass to the one he received early in the first half.  Lush took a few touches as he entered the box and slipped the ball once again under the sliding Lawrence for the game-winner.

Alvernia fans had to sweat out the final three minutes with DeSales on the aggressive, but the Bulldogs either misfired of Alvernia senior Richard Kessler (Reading, Pa./Reading) was up to the task in net.  Kessler finished the game with eight saves.

Alvernia will play a non-conference game at Penn State-Berks on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.

Alvernia 3, DeSales 2