BOX SCORE

Reading, Pa. (Sept. 14, 2013) - Junior goalie Erin Wunsch (West Lawn, Pa./Wilson) made a tremendous save on a penalty stroke, stretching to her right, and freshman Alexis Klopp (Bernville, Pa./Tulpehocken) converted one in the 69th minute to give Alvernia University (3-2) a 2-1 win over Gwynedd-Mercy College (2-2) Saturday afternoon in non-conference field hockey action at Alvernia.

The Crusaders put their first goal on the board in the 10th minute.  On a corner play, sophomore Sara Galanti (Red Bank, N.J./Middletown) sent a pass from the top down to freshman Margaret Wentzel (East Earl, Pa./Garden Spot) outside the near post and Wentzel pushed home her second goal of the season.

The Crusaders gave up a stroke in the 49th minute holding on to a 1-0 lead and Wunsch made it stand with a blocker save to her right.  The Griffins were in the midst of ramping up the pressure on the Alvernia end during the middle of the second half.  Wunsch made three of her seven saves for the day during a 16-minute stretch in the second half before the Griffins finally broke through with the equalizer in the 63rd minute.  Also on a corner play and similar to the one from the hosts, GMC ripped a shot from the top that was redirected in by Katie O'Neill.

Alvernia came out for the restart a bit more inspired and pressured the Griffin end.  It earned four penalty corners in the final eight minutes.  The Griffins appeared to have a defensive save with under two minutes to play, but the defender stopped the shot with her body giving Alvernia a penalty stroke.

Klopp stepped up for the stroke and caught the goalie guessing wrong as she ripped a shot into the empty net.

The Crusader hit the road for three straight games starting at Eastern University on Wednesday.

Alvernia 2, Gwynedd-Mercy 1