BOX SCORE BOX SCORE

Reading, Pa. (Sept. 1, 2012) - Junior goalie Colleen Maher (Wall, N.J./Wall Township) will be credited with five saves in Alvernia's (1-0-1) overtime draw against York College (1-0-1) Saturday afternoon in the championship game of the Crusader Classic.  One save in regulation absolutely extended the game, then after back-to-back shootout saves she likely walked off the field with the most satisfying non-win of her career.

The NCAA recognizes 0-0 overtime ties as just that all the way until the national championship, but the championship game of the Crusader Classic needed someone to--as Alvernia head coach Bill Bonewitz said--"take home the plastic," so the fans were treated to a shootout. 

After preserving the shutout with a brilliant save late in regulation and three more saves in extra time, the best-of-5 shootout was tied at 3-3 with one more York shooter to go.  Maher guessed right--not correctly--and needed a flailing toe of her left cleat to keep hopes alive.  She won't get credit for her three shootout saves, but she'll also never forget them. 

Alvernia sophomore Kristen Eckert (Oradell, N.J./River Dell Regional)--the first in the extra round of shooters--took a long, slow stroll from midfield to the penalty spot and burried her effort to put the Crusaders ahead, and once again it was all up to Maher.  With the champions' trophy sitting 60 yards away at the scorer's table Maher stoned one final effort--her third PK save in six attempts--threw her hands in the air and waiting for a mob of teammates.

Juniors Katelyn Gill (State College, Pa./State College Area) and Katie Hummel (Andreas, Pa./Tamaqua) anchored a defense in front of Maher all weekend that helped the Crusaders play 200 minutes of soccer without giving up a goal.  Both were named to the All-Tournament Team along with Rachel Gimber (Gilbertsville, Pa./Boyertown) who scored the first goal in Alvernia's 2-0 win over Gwynedd-Mercy on Friday.

The Crusaders managed just six shots on goal against York and sophomore keeper Melanie Glessner was up to the task each time.  Glessner had some magic of her own during the shootout.  The Crusaders converted each of their first three penalty kicks before Glessner denied back-to-back shooters to help send it to a sixth and deciding round.

York sophomores Elizabeth Bunn, Clare Chatham, and freshman Chelsea McDowell were all named to the All-Tournament Team.

Alvernia is scheduled to continue the season Tuesday at Lancaster Bible.

Alvernia 0, York 0 (2OT)