Reading, Pa (Oct. 3, 2009). The Crusader's opened the 2009-2010 season with an epic OT shootout comeback victory over the Rider University Bronco's. Rider's comfortable four goal lead evaporated over the final fifteen minutes of regulation, as the Vern swarmed like mad hornets around the Bronco's busy net minder peppering high percentage shots and converting four unanswered tallies. Sophomore forward Sean Castineira (Philadelphia, Pa. /Roman Catholic) was a one man highlight reel, answering the critics with an opening night Hat Trick and sealed the deal with a masterful shoot out game winning goal.

Castineira had a gritty supporting cast as the entire Crusader team buckled up the chin straps and cranked it up gear. The Vern chipped away the Rider lead with outstanding all around performances by newly appointed team assistant captain Christian Baron (Philadelphia, Pa. / LaSalle College HS) and Freshman lightning bolt Kevin Mengel (Gilbertsville, Pa. / Boyertown HS). The two forwards accounted for 7 points with Baron notching his second career Crusader Hat Trick while Mengel snapped the twine twice for his first collegiate goals. Junior Eric Ryan (Aston, Pa. / Sun Valley HS) wasted no time notching two goals with his stellar play that has appropriately earned him outstanding team honors in his first two seasons as a Crusader. An absolute brilliant player that demonstrates his versatility every shift, Ryan's explosive skating, stick handling and rifle shots keep Eric a marked man when he hits the ice.

Rider University never trailed in regulation play with a strong offensive performance led by their productive power play. The Bronco's converted five of their goals off the man advantage. Clearly experiencing some opening game jitters the Vern struggled to stay even strength but managed to keep the damage control to a minimum over the first two periods. Both teams exchanged two man advantages as officials kept the penalty box active all night. The Crusader's overcame an early 2 goal deficit with Baron and Mengel going back to back. No sooner did the Vern effectively play catch up they gave it all back surrendering two late Rider goals in the final minutes of the opening period.
Second Period action started with Mengel converting the lone power play goal of the evening at the 3:51 mark, pulling the Crusader's back to a manageable one goal difference. The Bronco's wasted little time padding the lead again popping home two power play goals increasing the breathing room with a 6-3 lead heading into the second intermission.
The third period started ominously for the Vern as they again gave up a quick power play goal after only 0:22 seconds and seemingly fell back to an insurmountable 7-3 deficit. The game would begin to find new life with the Vern mounting waves of offensive attacks on a legless Rider team. Eric Ryan swiftly penetrated across the Bronco's lower right wing defensive circle and snapped a short side winner over the Rider net minder at the 4:56 mark. Pulling back to within 3 goals energized the team as well as the Body Zone faithful who began to sense a magical turn around. The Crusader's kept knocking the next five minutes with near missed opportunities. Just as the third period entered the final ten minutes of regulation the dam began to burst. Sean Castineira scored the next two goals respectively at the 10:51 mark and again at the 12:56 mark. The Bronco's legs and lead all but was erased.
Showering another barrage of shots in the final 5 minutes the Vern desperately looked to find the game tying tally. The officials took exception to a trip by Eric Ryan that sent the Crusaders back to the Sin Bin with under two minutes remaining in regulation. The Crusader's skating two men down were desperately finding a seam to clear the zone. Rider mishandled a point pass with the puck straying into the neutral zone and sent down the left wing boards .The turn over subsequently led to a Rider penalty which gave the Vern a coveted offensive zone draw. A clean win back to the point gave Ian Meiskey (Lancaster, Pa. / Hempfield HS) a clear line from top right circle. Meiskey unleashed a laser beam that found Christian Baron's redirection into the top left corner for the short handed equalizer with 1:30 left in regulation.
The story line and scoring line were just beginning as the Vern overcame an incredible 4 goal differential. Rider still working the man advantage set up a nifty little give and go down the slot to regain the a 8-7 lead with only 1:13 remaining on the game clock.
Despite the monumental set back, the Vern remained steadfast and became the beneficiary of a bone head penalty that compromised Rider's ability to close the game. Bronco's goaltender Adam Socci toke liberty to Alvernia forward Zane Camburn's (Rieglesville, Pa, / Nazareth HS) setting up shop outside his crease stick working the forward to the ice. The dangerous act earned a 10 minute game misconduct. Redemption was quick and sweet as Christian Baron chipped in the game tying goal with 0:29 in regulation.

The Crusader's carried the emotional edge and man advantage into the Sudden Death overtime period. The Vern created excellent opportunities to score with a two man advantage but just could not find an opening in the pipes. The teams skated to a deadlock in overtime while sending the games decision to be determined by penalty shots in hockey's version of Russian roulette, the shoot out.
The Vern elected to defend and shoot last in each round of the shoot out. The Bronco's made easy work of the first shot leaving Michael Restuccia (Chester Springs, Pa. / Bishop Shanahan HS) hung out to dry after a missed poke check. This coupled with Alvernia's Anthony Froio's (Glenolden, Pa. / Interboro HS) missed shot gave the one up advantage to Rider. The redemption of Restuccia was to begin the turn around. Rider's second attempt was shot wildly wide into the glass behind the goal. The Vern following the game's theme trailed again, but for the last time. Second shooter for the Vern, Eric Ryan made a sweet hands move to his forehand and slid the puck confidently into an empty cage for the shoot out equalizer. Even up with one shooter left in the first round, Restuccia easily defended a forehand stuff shot that died harmlessly outside the left pipe.
Crusader's Sean Castineira selected in the third shooter position was up to the challenge. Skating patiently across the blue line across the right circle slot and decking backhand to forehand across the lower slot, Castineira had the goalie hung out to dry leaving an empty to cage to finish. Alvernia completed the electrifying comeback in dramatic fashion with the good guys earning a 9-8 win.

Special Team Kudos:

-First “Shorty” goes to Christian Baron just in the nick of time

Not So Special Team Kudos:
-PK Unit torched for 5 Rider Power Play Goals

Did You Notice:

-Newly appointed Team Captain Anthony Froio (Congrats)
- Returning Assistant Captains Senior Michael Smith and John Caputo
- Newly appointed Assistant Captain Christian Baron
-Coach Plue's two hands over head goal celebration.
-Coach O'Connell rocking Restuccia's Team Jacket on the bench.
-Coach Santiano inherited the defensive responsibility from former Alvernia player and Coach Tom Scogna. Thanks Tom and Good Luck!


Promotions:
+ Pete Cirard has been promoted to Vern coaching staff. Pete will graduate in December 2009 and is working as an “intern” coach as part of his Sports Management Degree.
+Former Player / Captain Michael Gilmore will see some bench time as assistant coach and will trouble shoot any DVD/VCR problems encountered on the team bus.

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You: Steve Schlegel will be moonlighting as an Alvernia defenseman again once his papers get cleared.