BOX SCORE 1 | BOX SCORE 2 | BOX SCORE 3 Warminster, Pa. (Nov. 18, 2012) - The Crusaders dug down deep this weekend at the annual ACHA Division III Empire Classic showcase tournament in the Middle Atlantic region.  The tournament boasts some of the best collegiate ACHA college hockey from Connecticut to North Carolina.  Alvernia entered the three-game weekend in arguably the toughest bracket of the tournament, while finishing with an impressive 2-1 record including knocking off third-ranked Robert Morris University 7-4 in the finale game on Sunday.
 
The Crusaders opened the showcase early Friday afternoon against the tough Farmingdale State College Rams.  Alvernia jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first period with goals credited to first line standouts Eric Pawlick (Cranford, NJ/Cranford) and linemate Jim McKelvie (Hatfield, Pa./North Penn).  Unfortunately Alvernia was unable to light the lamp in the final two periods with Farmingdale State tallying the next four goals resulting in a 4-2 final.  The Rams entered the tournament ranked second in the Atlantic Region and had to play their best come-from-behind hockey to surpass the Vern.  The game was evenly played on the stat sheet with Farmingdale out-nipping the Crusaders in shots 38-37.
 
Saturdays afternoon's matinee featured the University of Richmond Spiders playing Alvernia for the first time in the two teams' history.  The Vern rocked Richmond with a 6-0 drubbing in the opening period alone.  Brian Callahan (Willow Grove, Pa./Upper Moreland) continued his torrid point scoring streak-amassing four assists.  Callahan, playing incredible hockey has been all over the ice and score sheet leading the top Crusader line and setting up line mates McKelvie and Pawlick.  Sophomore Callahan currently leads Alvernia offensively with 31 total points.
 
Junior goaltender Sean Boyd (Churchville, Pa./Council Rock South) collected his fourth win of the season helping backstop the 9-2 win.  Boyd faced 25 shots allowing only two goals.  Boyd has been very sharp in his several spot starts appearing poised when tested.
 
Alvernia received additional goal scoring as the offensive shelling was contributed to by nine different goal scorers.  Billy Borrmann (Long Beach, Ca./Somerset) lit the lamp for his sixth goal of the season and added one assist.  Other goal scorers included senior Mike Merfert (Cranford, NJ/Cranford) who picked up his second of the season.  Captain Lucien Staquet (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown West) collected his tenth goal.  Eric Pawlick and Patrick Dolan, the Cranford, NJ connection each tallied a winner.  Freshman Alex Harris (Avon Lake, OH/Wooster) banged home his fourth of the season. The ever-versatile freshman Scott Dressler (West Milford, NJ/West Milford) pounded home his fifth of the season skating as a forward on Saturday.  The game-winner was scored by McKelvie who powered a rocket one time slap shot from the middle of the offensive circles ripping some serious twine in the top left corner.
 
Sunday's awaited match-up with Robert Morris University would please any hockey aficionado. Every element of the game was represented with bone jarring hits, break away finishes, laser beam blasts from the points and a host of special team penalty kills.  RMU jumped out quick and grabbed a 1-0 lead only six minutes into the contest.  Alvernia answered swiftly minutes later as Callahan exploded into the neutral zone at center ice receiving a radar vision pass from McKelvie.  Callahan converted a beautiful break away effort snapping home the equalizer for a 1-1 tie.  Callahan bombarded opposition goaltending all weekend with the sounds of chiming crossbars and posts, while nearly converting on about half a dozen more goals.
 
RMU, as expected came out of the first intermission fast and furious and capitalized on two Vern turnovers and cashed in a 3-1 lead.  The Crusaders, not feeling defeated began a barrage of goal scoring which started with Ian Meer's (Morgantown, Pa./Twin Valley) crafty move across the high slot flipping a wrist shot across traffic into the lower right handed corner cutting the score to 3-2.
 
The game's biggest momentum changer occurred when RMU's top scorer Brendan Boyle dealt out a slash that bought him a five-minute major penalty.  The Crusaders quickly converted goals by defenseman Anthony Galeano (Brooklyn, NY/St Edmunds Prep), he cranked up a slap shot well about the left circle into the top right corner which evened up the contest.  The Vern entered the five-minute major advantage all square and proceeded to light up the RMU net for three consecutive power play scores.  McKelvie, Pawlick and senior Kevin Mengel (Gilbertsville, Pa./Boyertown) gave the Crusaders a stunning 6-3 lead entering the third period.
 
The five-minute advantage certainly was a big story line of the game, not be overlooked was a huge play that occurred just before the Crusaders went on the long advantage.  With the score tied at 3-3 in the second period and entering the 12:15, Alvernia forward Borrmann dished out a crushing body check in the RMU offensive zone which sent the opposition player into the boards shattering the plexiglass into hundreds of fragmented pieces.
 
The Crusader's played a tight third period and killed several RMU power play opportunities. The game was sealed and delivered during a late final period power play goal.  Defensemen Meers blasted a blue-line rocket from the top right circle inside the opposite post. The Crusaders win may help solidify their current standings as #4 in the Atlantic Region ranking defeating a quality RMU team that has deservedly earned top rankings in their own right.