Exton, Pa. (Feb. 25, 2012) - The Crusaders will once again play for the right to compete for the DVCHC Championship next weekend after a defeat of Richard Stockton College of New Jersey.  The Vern were avenging a stinging loss last weekend at the ACHA Atlantic Regional tournament, ironically to the same Stockton Osprey's team they thoroughly dismantled on Saturday afternoon.
 
Alvernia battered out 40 shots, lighting the lamp eight times in the lopsided contest.  An offensive explosion was overdue after getting snake bitten last weekend by the same Stockton goaltender Aaron Connell, who struggled to keep the game close today after the first intermission.  Alvernia broke a scoreless tie at the 7:48 mark of the first period when Alvernia senior Christian Baron (Philadelphia, Pa. / LaSalle College HS) stole a loose puck at center ice while the Crusaders were shorthanded.  Baron, creating a half ice break away, skated into the high slot and fired a low shot along the ice that caromed just inside the left post clanking around the back of the cage for a 1-0 lead.  Baron's short handed effort was also his 16^th goal of the season.
 
The Crusaders scored what was to be the game winning goal with time winding down in the opening period.  Junior Mike Christie (Collegeville, Pa. / Perkiomen Valley HS), patrolling the low slot received a threaded pass from Kyle Kopervas ( Marlton, NJ / Wyoming Seminary Prep ), Christie with his back to the goaltender maneuvered a nifty spinarama stashing a forehand shot into the lower right corner.  The 2-0 lead gave the Crusaders breathing room and proved to be the defining moment when the flood gates would open.
 
Wasting little time getting back on the scoreboard early in the second period sophomore Kopervas scored his first goal since returning back to the Crusaders lineup. Kopervas connected 28 seconds into the period crashing the net pushing home the puck for a 3-0 lead.  Freshman Jim McKelvie ripped home a wicked wrist shot at the 12:45 mark of the second period for his 15^th goal of the season.  McKelvie, skating with numbers on an odd man rush cut back across the top of left circle unwinding a laser shot high above the glove side deep into the twine.
 
New addition freshman Max Matejik ( Fallington, Pa. / Notre Dame HS ) tallied his fourth goal since joining the Crusaders.  Matejik is a triple threat player who combines great stick handling, fluent well balanced skater who possesses a third eye with great vision on the ice.
 
Stockton eventually scored their lone goal on Alvernia net minder Patrick Murray ( Cranford, Pa. / Cranford HS )  late in the second frame working on power play cutting the lead to 5-1.  Murray was stellar in the first ten minutes of the game, stopping a flurry of high percentage Osprey scoring opportunities.  Murray faced 33 shots, quieting any attempts Stockton made to close up the Vern's margin of victory.
Additional Crusader goal scoring came from junior Kevin Mengel ( Gilbertsville, Pa. / Boyertown HS ) who collected a pair of goals adding to his team leading total of 23 lamp lighters on the season.  Mengel also dished off two assists on the day for a well rounded four point effort.  Alvernia senior defenseman Ian Meiskey ( Lancaster, Pa / Hempfield HS ) contributed to his goal total scoring his eighth of the season.
 
The Crusaders will now prepare for the DVCHC Conference Championship series against nemesis PSU Brandywine.  The series will start Friday March 2 at the Ice Works Arena in Aston.  The three game set will then shift back to Power Play rink in Exton, Pa. The best of three will determine who hoists the banner and bragging rights for conference supremacy.