BOX SCORE

Pittston, Pa. (Dec. 10, 2012) - Sophomore Vinnie Mazzanti (Langhorne, Pa. / Neshaminy HS) quietly played his best game of the season to date.  You wouldn't find his name anywhere on the score sheet but his presence was felt anchoring the Vern blue line on Saturday afternoon.  Alvernia (15-2-2) closed out the first semester with a tough win over East Stroudsburg University with another one goal victory.
 
Always a strong DVCHC conference opponent, the Warriors jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead scoring just minutes into the contest.  Alvernia drew back to even on Mike Christie's (Collegeville, Pa. /Perkiomen Valley HS) power play goal at 15:49 left in the opening period.  Christie deposited a quick pass across the low slot from Sean Castineira (Philadelphia, Pa. / Roman Catholic HS).  The game remained 1-1 skating into the first intermission.
 
Alvernia goaltender, senior Jim Fynes (Philadelphia, Pa. / Roman Catholic HS) made several key saves on back-to-back ESU power plays keeping the game in check. Fynes finished the game with 37 saves.
 
Alvernia grabbed their first lead of the game on Christian Baron's (Philadelphia, Pa. / LaSalle College HS) heavy wrist shot from the middle of the left face off circle. Baron buried the puck “bar down” over the glove side top far corner at the 1:00 mark of the second period for a 2-1 lead. The slim margin was erased by ESU with 5:39 remaining in the period.  The score did not remain deadlocked too long; outstanding individual effort from freshman Brian Callahan (Willow Grove, Pa. / Upper Moreland HS) off an offensive draw gave the Vern the go ahead goal. Callahan cleanly won the right circle offensive zone draw spinning around the ESU forward and snapped a tight wrist shot over the high glove side.
 
The Vern had numerous quality chances to add insurance goals but were stymied by bouncing pucks coupled by near miss opportunities.  Kevin Mengel (Gilbertsville, Pa. / Boyertown HS) opened the third period with an early power play goal which turned out to be the eventual game wining tally. Mengel was positioned high in right face off circle receiving a tape to tape feed from Baron working the opposite offensive circle.  Mengel fired a low one timer into the back of the cage. The 4-2 lead would prove to just enough although the Vern made things interesting surrendering a late goal with 3:18 left on the game clock. Alvernia turned away last minute desperation ESU attempts to gain their offensive zone, holding on for the victory.
 
The unheralded first star of the evening belonged to Mazzanti.  The second year Crusader has shifted back to defense with little effort making a huge impact providing much needed depth to the Crusader blue line corp.  A deceptively explosive speedster, Mazzanti protects the puck well while possessing a hard shot when the situation calls. Moving into the stretch drive Alvernia will benefit from his transition from forward to top line defenseman.
The Crusader's will head into the Christmas holidays with a long break reopening the second semester on Jan. 21 versus Shippensburg at home.