BOX SCORE 1 | BOX SCORE 2 | BOX SCORE 3 | BOX SCORE 4 Aston, Pa. (Sept. 22, 2013) - The Crusaders opened up the 2013-14 season with the annual IceWorks College Showcase Tournament.  A quick four-game format in 48 hours is a true "Iron Man" collegiate event.  Alvernia earned an impressive 3-0-1 record with victories over University of Maryland, Bloomsburg University, Widener University and a tie with Fordham University.
 
The Crusaders rallied for a 5-5 tie with Fordham on Friday night.  After jumping out to a quick 2-0 lead, the Vern surrendered five unanswered goals - trailing 5-2 entering the final intermission.  The first line responded quickly, tallying three times within six minutes to open the third period. Sean Mullen (Lincoln University/Oxford) scored the game-tying goal at the ten minute mark.  Mullen enjoyed his best game as a Crusader to date with two goals.  An impressive performance was turned in by top-liner Jimmy McKelvie (Hatfield, Pa./North Penn), tallying two goals with two assists to lead the team in points. Brian Callahan (Willow Grove, Pa./Upper Moreland) collected a goal along with two helpers while Nico Delgiorno (Columbia, Pa./Hempfield) helped the late offensive push with a barrage of offensive rushes.  Freshman goaltender Mike Durofchalk (Downingtown, Pa./Dowingtown West) inserted late in the second period turned away all eleven shots while being credited with the tie.
 
Saturday's double feature matinee began with an early afternoon 5-1 win over Widener University, followed by the prime time evening match up with the University of Maryland Terps resulting in a well played 7-4 Alvernia win.  Headlining the offensive explosion was Delgiorno who tallied six lamplighters on the day with four assists, reaching double digits with a ten point day.  Delgiorno's standout performance is arguably one of the best offensive point games in recent memory, burning the Maryland Terps with four goals and two assists in the night cap.  Sophomore Sean Mullen (Lincoln Univ./Oxford Area) picked up the eventual game winner for his second goal of the season.  McKelvie chipped in with another goal and two helpers. Once again, goaltender Durofchalk was stellar in the pipes with thirty-three saves.  Sophomore James Bangar (Whitfield, Ca./La Mirada) earned the win in the net for the Crusaders with seventeen saves in the early game victory over Widener with the rare feat of picking up two assists in the 5-1 win.  Bangar is the first Alvernia goaltender to contribute multiple assists in a game.
 
The Vern saved the most entertaining game for Sunday afternoon with a 9-8 slug fest victory over Bloomsburg University.  The Huskies never truly went away thanks in part to ill-timed Crusader penalties.  The Crusaders, while never trailing in the game had several leads almost vanish but their 'bend don't break' high wire act kept them always equal or up.  Offensive stars of the game McKelvie, Callahan and Delgiorno all recorded two-goal games. McKelvie rocked a five point night out adding three assists while two assists each going to Callahan and Delgiorno.
 
The quiet star all weekend floating under the radar screen was the coming out party of sophomore defenseman Brett Sereikis (Aston, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara).  Sereikis notched a staggering six assists in the Bloomsburg game, resulting as the point leader for the game.  Anthony Galeano (Brooklyn, NY/St. Edmund Prep) fired home two blasts from the point including the game winning tenth goal against the Huskies.  First time goal scorers for the Vern included local talent freshman Dane Beilhart (Shillington, Pa./Governor Mifflin) and sophomore Brett Fernandes (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee).
 
Special Team Kudos:
-  The Power Play totaled nine goals over the first four games.

Alvernia 5, Fordham 5
Alvernia 5, Widener 1
Alvernia 7, Univ of Maryland 4
Alvernia 9, Bloomsburg 8