BOX SCORE
Reading, PA (Oct. 14, 2008) – Despite taking the early 2-0 lead, the Crusaders (6-7, 1-2 Freedom) fell to Eastern University (8-5, 3-0 Freedom) this afternoon in Freedom Conference action at Alvernia University. Regulation was not enough to decide the winner, and the score remained tied at two through both overtimes. The Crusaders were once again unable to net a successful penalty stroke and fell by a final of 3-2 after the Eagles were successful on their first three strokes in the shoot-out.
Sophomore Christy Yousaitis (West Lawn, PA/Wilson) opened the scoring less than two minutes into the game when she recovered the loose ball in front of the net and quickly redirected it for her second goal of the season. The Crusaders added to their lead in the 27th minute when junior #Janelle Lynch# (Macungie, PA/Brandywine) one-timed a brilliant pass from Samantha Landis (Watsontown, PA/Warrior Run) and sent a blistering shot into the cage for her eighth goal of the season.
The Eagles from Eastern managed to cut Alvernia's lead in half with less than five minutes left in the first half after they capitalized on a penalty corner and Lindsay Moyer snuck one past the Crusader goalie after a scuffle in front of the net. Eastern out shot Alvernia in the first half 7-4 and also held the advantage in corners 2-1.
The second half saw the Eagles earn and impressive 13 corners and fire off 16 shots, one of which proved to be the game-tying goal. Moyer connected for her second goal of the game off a penalty corner with less than ten minutes left in the game. Moyer received the corner pass from Sarah Garber and drilled a shot from the top of the circle into the back of the cage. The Crusaders managed an equally impressive ten shots of their own but were unable to find the back of the cage at all in the second half. The score remained tied at two through regulation forcing overtime.
Senior goalie Audrey Hoffman (Mertztown, PA/Brandywine) had a banner day, keeping the Crusaders even thanks to 20 saves.
Both overtimes were fruitless with Alvernia managing only three shots and Eastern firing off nine of their own. Alvernia soon found themselves in their second shoot-out in their last three games and once again found themselves unable to sneak anything past the opposing goalie. The Eagles connected for the first three of their shots and Alvernia hit the goalie's pads on their first three.
Eastern 3, Alvernia 2 (Penalty Strokes)
