BOX SCORE

Reading Pa. (Oct. 11, 2009) - The Vern kept the lamp lit all night with an offensive explosion and demolished the Neumann Knights completing a DVCHC weekend sweep. The Crusaders bookended their opening weekend in the Delaware Valley College Hockey Conference with two important divisional victories. The Crusader's validated Friday nights 4-2 win over PSU Delco with a convincing 9-2 peppering of Neumann University on Sunday. The well prepared Crusaders padded the score sheet with 5 goals over the first two periods, while the third period show was provided by sophomore Ben Yuro's (Howell, NJ / Christian Brothers Academy HS) hat trick.

Alvernia jumped out to an early lead thanks to Junior Josh Cohen's (Pottstown, Pa / Coventry Christian HS) persistent hard work in the slot grabbing a Yuro dish and shoving it home for the 1-0 lead. The Crusader's have successfully pieced together the second and third lines due to a series of injuries that have plagued the Vern over the first 8 days of the season. Despite the injury set backs each line continues to rise to the occasion with a “hard hat” attitude and workman like efforts. The Knights mounted some potent scoring opportunities over the first 20 minutes with Sophomore goaltender Jim Fynes (Philadelphia, Pa / Roman Catholic HS) answering the call. Fynes flashed a quick glove all night covering post to post several times repelling three Neumann power plays.
The Vern built a 2-0 lead in the opening period when defenseman Ian Meiskey (Lancaster, Pa / Hempfield HS) slipped down the high slot firing the puck into the top left corner. Meiskey has been dominating the blue line so far this season keeping the play in the offensive zone creating golden scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates.
Following the second intermission the Vern picked up two more tallies from dynamic freshman forward Kevin Mengel (Gilbertsville, Pa / Boyertown HS) Skating with the first line over the weekend. Mengel's been nothing short of outstanding emerging as an offensive catalyst with his knack and propensity to score. Alvernia topped off third period scoring with a dazzling deke from second line center Sean Castineira (Philadelphia, Pa / Roman Catholic HS). Castineira stick handled down the right wing slot luring Neumann goaltender Jim Beatty out of his crease leaving a slight opening for Castineira to wind behind the net and neatly wrapping the puck around the post over the goal line. A classy little deke that mesmerized the goalie and defense, Castineira had magician like puck movement creating something out of nothing.

Alvernia's version of a carpenter bee, Eric Phillips (River Edge, NJ / River Dell Regional HS), opened the final period with a burst of energy. Less than 3 minutes into the final period, fourth line lunch pale player Phillips created a seam in the Knight's blue line. Yuro sent a slippery little head man pass which allowed Phillips to squirt thru the defense all alone snapping a wicked wrist shot past the glove side into the twine.
The remainder of third period goal scoring barrage was courtesy of Ben Yuro's hat trick. Yuro tenaciously fore checked all game causing the Knights to cough up the puck in their own end. The highlight of Yuro's hat trick was the third and final goal, a hard wrap around stuffer which finished the Crusader scoring with 0:34 seconds remaining in regulation. Yuro finished the evening with 3 goals and 2 helpers for a 5 pointer night. Yuro's second goal was an unassisted short handed effort. Neumann did solve Jim Fynes in the third period with 2 goals although Fynes kept the game in check early preventing the Knights from gaining any momentum.
The Crusader's quick 3-0 start this season looks to continue next weekend with the team's first road trip to East Stroudsburg University.


Special Team Kudos:

- Vern killed 8 of 8 Neumann Power Plays
- Yuro's Shortie in the third period
- Rock Solid “D” from Fresh. Shane Clements (Bensalem, Pa / Holy Ghost Prep)

Did You Notice:
- Coach Cirard running the “D” for Coach Santiano
- Steve Schlegel's first game since Feb. 19, 2008
- Freshman Michael Merfert's first collegiate game
- Cirard's 2nd intermission bloody nose courtesy of another high stick, this time in the Crusader's locker room