Reading, Pa. (Feb.13, 2011) - The Vern recaptured the Berks County Cup by defeating the ACHA Division II Kutztown Golden Bears 4-3 in dramatic fashion.  Alvernia sophomore Kevin Mengel (Gilbertsville, Pa./Boyertown) notched the game winner one minute into overtime with a power play top-shelf tally. 

Junior Christian Baron (Philadelphia, Pa./LaSalle College) scored the first of his two goals at the 10:05 mark of the opening period.  The Vern skated into the first intermission with a 1-0 lead and played determined hockey with a combination of offensive flurries and physical play.  The senior defensive pair of Josh Cohen (Pottstown, Pa./Coventry Christian) and Eric Phillips (River Edge, NJ/River Dell Regional) logged plenty of ice time and frustrated the Golden Bears consistently all night, slowing up counter rushes and keeping the play inside the KU blue line.  Freshman Kyle Kopervas (Marlton, NJ/Wyoming Seminary Prep) continues to prove his worth with each shift.  A tenacious grinder, Kopervas created numerous scoring opportunities finding seams behind Kutztown's defense all night.  A hard driving forward, Kopervas, combined with seniors Anthony Froio (Glenolden, Pa./Interboro) and Eric Ryan (Aston, Pa./Sun Valley) kept the pedal down, generating high percentage scoring opportunities easily forming AU's lethal line one.

The Crusaders constant pressure continued in the second period as Alvernia picked up another big-time goal from senior defenseman Howard Bates (Philadelphia, Pa./Father Judge).  Bates blasted home a right-circle drive at the 4:33 mark of the period, giving Alvernia wiggle room on the score board and a 2-0 lead.  Bates builds his playing reputation on punishing open ice hits and has silently scored five goals from the point this season.  The Vern increased the lead at 16:38 of the second period when Baron once again was “Johnny on the Spot” picking up a loose puck in the crease and stuffing it home.  Baron's goals have pushed his season total now to double digits, with eleven lamp lighters.

The 3-0 lead was quickly erased as KU finally found some room behind Alvernia goaltender Mike Restuccia (Chester Springs, Pa./Bishop Shanahan) and cut the margin to a two goal deficit.  Restuccia, playing in his final season made timely saves early helping the Vern build momentum offensively, allowing the Crusaders to torch the Golden Bears with 21 shots in the second period.

The final period opened fast and furious with a desperate rush by Kutztown producing two goals with the game tying score in the final four minutes of regulation. With the score knotted at 3-3 the Vern was the beneficiary of a KU tripping penalty.  The Vern power play finished the final 30 seconds of play out of sync, giving up a clean break away, but Restuccia steered away the shot and saved what could have been a major defensive breakdown off the offensive zone draw.

Alvernia started the sudden death overtime period with a fresh power play and a 4-on-3 advantage. Power play forwards Mike Christie (Collegeville, Pa./Perkiomen Valley) and Kevin Mengel (Gilbertsville, Pa./Boyertown) skated uncontested with plenty of open ice, the last rush as time expired on the advantage.  The rush was led by the swift and crafty stickhandling of Eric Ryan.  Playing as the quarterback on the rush defenseman, Ryan gained the offensive zone sliding a pass into the lower left hand slot to Christie.  Christie patiently held the puck and exploited the two on one advantage slipping a saucer pass to Mengel in the lower right hand slot. Mengel gathered control and ripped a top-shelf wrister, burying the game winner in the roof. Mengel's game winner was also his team leading 21st goal of the season.

Alvernia avenged a disappointing 5-2 loss last year in the Berks County Cup now have the hardware sitting on the mantle at the Vern.  Alvernia's all-time head-to-head record against Kutztown University now improves to four wins and two losses.