BOX SCORE

Reading, Pa. (Aug. 30, 2013) - Sophomore Natalie Messaros (Oxford, Pa./Oxford) more than doubled her career scoring total in one afternoon netting a hat trick to carry Alvernia University (1-0) to a 6-1 win over King's College (0-1) Friday afternoon in non-conference field hockey action at Alvernia.

Messaros had two goals and an assist as a freshman in 20 games.  She scored both goals last season in a 9-0 win over Hood College.

On Friday, her first goal of the game gave the Crusaders a 2-1 lead with under two minutes left in the first half.  The score came on a cross from Margaret Wentzel (East Earl, Pa./Garden Spot) that was redirected in Messaros' direction by Melanie Lowry (Gap, Pa./Octorara).

Sophomore Sara Galanti (Red Bank, N.J./Middletown) had scored the first goal of the season in the 13th minute, but King's tied it up with a goal in the 30th minute.

The Crusaders enjoyed the 2-1 lead at the break then scored four unanswered goals in the second half.

Messaros assisted on a goal by Summer Liberto (Severna Park, Md./Archbishop Spalding) three minutes into the second half then scored her second and third of the game just over a minute apart in the 44th and 45th minute.  Liberto netted her second goal of the game in the 56th minute to close the scoring.

Junior goalie Erin Wunsch (West Lawn, Pa./Wilson) made a pair of saves and gave up one goal in 55 minutes.  Misty Cox (Richland, Pa./Conrad Weiser) made her college debut and played the final 15 minutes and made three saves.

Alvernia returns to action next Wednesday when it hosts Franklin & Marshall College for a 7:00 p.m. game.

Alvernia 6, King's 1