BOX SCORE

Whitehall, Pa (October 17, 2009) - The Crusaders exercised the Lehigh Valley Ice Rink demons with a gritty 7-5 win over the East Stroudsburg University Warriors. The Crusader's probably should have started the game shorthanded as it basically skated a large majority of regulation on the penalty kill. The Vern set an organizational record with three “shorties” in the third period off great individual efforts from forwards Eric Ryan (Aston, Pa / Sun Valley HS) and Sean Castineira (Philadelphia, Pa / Roman Catholic HS). The team battled adversity all game defending three 2-man disadvantages and turned two of them into shorthanded goals.

The Warriors played tough over the first ten minutes of the opening period but Alvernia connected twice before the first intermission to grab 2-0 lead. Michael Christie (Collegeville, Pa / Perkiomen HS) tapped home a pass across the crease from Zane Camburn (Riegellsville, Pa / Nazereth HS). Camburn connected just minutes later with an acrobatic midair volley from inside the lower left circle. Reminiscent of fellow teammate Kevin Mengel's (Gilbertsville, Pa. /Boyertown HS) two hand swat last weekend, Camburn known for his corner work showed the whole package of skills smacking the waist high puck with authority into the twine.

The Warriors greeted the Vern with some spirited play in the second period which resulted in a goal at the 4:39 mark. The Crusader's lead cut in half and struggling to play even strength actually were whistled for 5 consecutive minors keeping East Stroudsburg on the offensive. The Warriors stumbled with the power play all night only converting one power play goal in 10 opportunities. The Crusader's pumped home one of two play goals when Ben Yuro (Howell, NJ / Christian Brothers Academy) pumped home his 4th goal of the season at the 17:47 mark of the second period and a 3-1 lead.

ESU scored two unanswered even strength goals just 8 minutes into the final period to make for another thrill a minute ending. With the score knotted a 3-3 the Vern received back to back penalties which gave the Warriors a golden opportunity to jump ahead. Instead first line forward cashed in his first shorthanded goal of the game. A loose puck slipped erroneously out of the Warriors offensive zone due to the persistent pressure Castineira was applying. The Alvernia forward exploded out to center ice and pushed the puck around the stumbling ESU defensive tandem and all alone for an uncontested break away. Castineira undressed the Warrior goalie for a 4-3 lead. Alvernia effectively killed the penalty and were rewarded their own power play opportunity. Eric Ryan finished off a Mike Christie pass for a 5-3 lead.

Alvernia worked the clock and the penalty kill for the final six minutes of regulation. The ESU power play stayed stymied until they finally converted with 2:35 left in regulation. Back to a one goal 5-4 lead and still on the penalty kill the Vern reached down turning it up another notch with spectacular wicked wrister off the stick of Eric Ryan. Ryan stole a puck in the neutral zone out - skating the entire ESU power play unit crossing the offensive blue line firing off a twine snapper that found the top right corner. Ryan backed the lone defenseman into the lower left circle and held up just enough to exploit the seam in the defense resulting in another E-Ticket Attraction.

The Crusader's burned ESU for two shorthanded goals to take a 6-4 lead. The special teams would get no rest skating the final 6 minutes less a man. ESU yanked the goalie to increase the offensive man advantage and did capitalize to shrink the deficit to 6-5. Still working the power play, ESU was finally whistled for a minor roughing penalty. The critical face off came back down in the ESU defensive zone which forced the Warriors to lose the attacker for the goaltender. The final offensive thrust for ESU was stalled at the Alvernia blue line and Sean Castineira buried another center ice break away “shortie” over the hand cuffed Warrior goalie into the top left corner. The wildly entertaining game kept the Crusader's 4-0 starters moving into next weekends cross state clash with St. Vincents College at the Body Zone.

Special Team Kudos:
- Monster game from the entire team
- PK snuffing out three 5 on 3 ESU advantages
- PK unit cashing in THREE Shorthanded Goals
- 2 Power Play Goals!

Did You Notice:
- Alvernia's 2 Game Misconducts
- Plue recovered 2 MIA pucks, odds on favorite to win annual Easter Egg Hunt!
-  Howard Bates lowering the boom. ( TKO Style )
- Rule # 33, Please stay along the side boards if you're a beginner. Someone keep an eye out for Connor.
- Smitty's suspicious beard growth. Sleeper Cell?
- 35 total penalties! That can't be good for business