West Chester, Pa. (Sun. Oct 8, 2010) - The Crusader's reached down deep in the final minutes rallying from a two goal deficit but ultimately came up short against PSU-Brandywine in an overtime 5-4 shootout loss. The Vern faced a familiar foe which produced the same results as PSU-Brandywine has outlasted the Crusaders in the last 3 meetings with overtime wins. The last meeting a 4-3 OT loss kept the Vern from winning the DVCHC Conference Championship game on March 6, 2010. Sunday's performance was an encore with even more dramatics than the last two confrontations. The game featured countless power plays, big time hits, a missed overtime penalty shot finally culminating with an exiting OT shoot out.

 

The Vern dominated the opening minutes of the game, however midway thru the first period the momentum shifted towards the Blue Lions who peppered Alvernia netminder Mike Restuccia (Chester Springs, Pa./Bishop Shanahan HS) with 13 shots and cashed in a 1-0 lead heading into the first intermission. The second period opened very much like the close of period one with the Crusaders coughing up pucks in their defensive zone leading to quality scoring chances. PSU-Brandywine jumped all over the Vern on the power play capitalizing on the Crusader's undisciplined approach leading to two goals and a comfortable 3-0 advantage. Anthony Froio (Glenside, Pa./Interboro) stopped the bleeding with less than five minutes remaining stashing home a power play tally. Play was halted and dominated by a slew of penalties that kept even strength play a rarity throughout the first two periods.

PSU Brandywine was awarded several power play chances opening the third period, however they were unable to convert. The score remained 3-1 until the 8:49 mark when Brandywine stretched the margin to a seemingly insurmountable 4-1 lead with less than half a period of hockey remaining.  Alvernia's character of comebacks resurfaced which was once again started by senior defenseman Howard Bates (Philadelphia, Pa./Father Judge).  Bates accepted a pass from defenseman Ian Meiskey (Lancaster, Pa./Hempfield) and blasted a slapper from the top of the right wing circle. The shot sailed thru a maze of traffic finding a home behind the PSU netminder and cut the deficit to 4-2. The Blue Lions held the lead until the 17:33 mark and then the dam broke. Alvernia with a flurry of activity around the Brandywine goalie stunned the home team and their crowd once again with late game heroics from Kevin Mengel (Gilbertsville, Pa./Perkiomen Valley) and Sean Castineira (Philadelphia, Pa./Roman Catholic). Both goals the result of relentless work in the offensive corners carrying the play in front banging home shots on the doorstep. The Crusader's uncanny ability to bounce back helped pick up a crucial point on the road sending the contest into overtime in a 4-4 deadlock.

The late game dramatics only helped build to a wild overtime period which featured a fast paced offensive driven 4-on-4 format that opens up the ice with end to end scoring chances. Each team had golden odd man rush opportunities with each goal tender equal to the task. Undoubtedly the best save of the evening was reserved for the untimely penalty shot after PSU slipped a stretching forward past Alvernia defenseman Kevin Meer's (Morgantown, Pa./Twin Valley) . Meer's had little option but to latch on and prevent the inevitable break away. The contact which happened just over the Alvernia blue line set up the exciting penalty shot. Restuccia handled the moment with great poise taking away any shooting angle and repelled a tight ankle stuff shot. The save helped temporarily preserve the chance to take their chances in a shoot out.

 

The game ending shoot out is decided by five shooters from each squad. The Vern lined up veteran shootersEric Ryan (Aston, Pa./Sun Valley), Mengel, Castineira, Zane Camburn (Riegelsville, Pa./Nazareth) and captain Froio.  The shoot out started with a spectacular one up for Alvernia with Ryan demonstrating why he is easily one of the most talented players on the ice. Ryan's lightening quick puck movement mesmerized and tangled up the PSU netminder, ending with the puck neatly slotted between the pads into the back of the net. This proved to be the last time Alvernia found twine in the shoot out while PSU went behind Restuccia twice and the 5-4 Blue Lion victory.

 

Special Team Kudo's :

 

-          One Power Play Tally

-          Restuccia's game saving penalty shot stop

-          Howard Bates generously dishing out several open ice hits

 

Did You Notice :

-          Mysterious guy with the beanie on the defensive end of the bench

-          Castineira stoned twice in the shoot out, once by the official, once by Lowthert

   -     Vern sent to the gate 9 times

-          Special Appearance by former Crusader blue liner Frank Wang

-          2010 Vern Grad and two time assistant captain Michael Smith “in the crowd”

-          Lucien Staquet's missing skate located on the roof of Claire Hall

-          Former Crusader Conor Delaney ( 2008 Grad ) is now Coach O'Connell's neighbor. There goes the neighborhood.

 

 

Dog House : “Chateau El Bow Wow” 

-          search and rescue pup “Cody” made her first unofficial find, a tired and weary Michael Smith a.k.a “Smitty” turned up around 8:45 AM on a park bench overlooking the Home Coming Alumni LAX game on Saturday morning. “Smitty” was taking the late “SHIFT” on his campus return with Keith Stone and 12 of his closest friends. Mysterious package found in his presence. Had all the makings of a crime scene.

 

Announcements :     Goaltender Mike Restuccia confirmed “engagement” to 4 year team manager Laura Monella ( Vern 2010 Grad ) . Eric Phillips announced as 'ring bearer” and Ryan Kelly in the running for best man.