BOX SCORE

Reading, Pa. (Apr. 16, 2008) – Alvernia College senior Tom Novak (Pottstown, Pa./Pottsgrove) scored five goals, a few of them in spectacular fashion, and handed out one assist, but a consistent Eastern University attack led the Eagles to a 21-8 win Wednesday afternoon in Pennsylvania Athletic Conference men's lacrosse action at Schlager Memorial Field.

Both teams scored goals in all four quarters with Eastern (6-8, 5-1 PAC) taking a 4-1 lead after one and a 9-4 lead at the break. Alvernia (1-11, 1-5 PAC) put three more on the board in the third, but seven from the guests helped them pull away and cruise through the final quarter.

Eastern held a 59-24 advantage in shots while Alvernia goalies Joe Cepparulo (Southampton, Pa./Archbishop Wood) and Ryan Richard (Frankford, Del./Sussex Tech) combined to make 18 stops, and both teams were 2-for-5 in extra-man opportunities.

The Eagles tallied the first three goals of the game in the opening five minutes from three different players before Alvernia sophomore Chris Baker (Exeter, Pa./Exeter) put the Crusaders on the board assisted by Zac Naylon (Shillington, Pa./Governor Mifflin).

Novak and freshman Ben Stidham (Glen Burnie, Md./Cardinal Gibbons) scored back-to-back in the second quarter and Baker added his second of the day and seventh of the season later in the frame.
Novak scored the first goal of the second half as Alvernia opened the half on a man-up opportunity, but Eastern followed with five straight goals to pull away. Novak stopped that run with two more of his own and added the first goal of the final quarter as the last for Alvernia.

Alvernia will host Shenandoah University on Saturday in the final home game of the season.

Eastern 21, Alvernia 8