BOX SCORE Reading, Pa ( Saturday Jan. 25, 2014 ) - Alvernia University rallied from a 3-2 deficit in the final period to defeat the ACHA Atlantic Region #2 seed Farmingdale State University with a key 4-3 win.

Farmingdale--playing a three game set versus all DVCHC teams--was coming off a hard fought win over #5 seed Neumann University.

Alvernia's victory should counter two disappointing losses to Rowan University and Loyola University to start the second semester.

The Crusaders' offense was powered from Jimmy McKelvie's (Hatfield, Pa./North Penn HS) four-point night with two goals on top of two assists. Senior captain Lucien Staquet (Downingtown, Pa / Downingtown West HS) opened the scoring with a picture-perfect home run pass from defenseman Kevin Meers (Morgantown, Pa./Twin Valley) supplying the highlight goal of the game. Meers operating from inside the Vern's defensive end recognized Staquet floating behind the Rams' defensive unit and snapped a laser beam pass up the center of the ice. Staquet handled the pass in stride on the offensive blue line skating uncontested ripping a wrist shot inside the left post.

The Vern jumped out to a 2-0 lead, however Farmingdale turned the table with three unanswered lamp-lighters to grab the lead. The game appeared to be in the Rams' favor in the second period outplaying the Crusaders noticeably. Alvernia benefited from a series of altercations after the whistle in the closing minute of the second period. The Rams engaging in excessive roughing after a stoppage in front of their own cage provided some high-energy roughing minors and a major cross check. The Vern emerged with what amounted to seven minutes of power play advantage.

The Crusaders cashed in midway thru the extended power play to even the score at 3-3. Sean Mullen (Lincoln University, Pa./Oxford) scored on the man-advantage for his 11th goal of the season.  McKelvie picked up the eventual game-winner with 10:23 remaining in regulation clinching the 4-3 victory. Patrick Murray ( Cranford, NJ / Seton Hall Prep ) recorded the victory between the pipes for the Vern facing 58 shots with 55 saves.

Inside the Numbers

Junior first-line forward Jimmy McKelvie's game winning goal may have also sealed Alvernia's post season birth to the Regional Tournament. McKelvie increased his team-leading points total with a well-balanced 27 goals / 36 assists. McKelvie has shattered the previous all-time points total in a season with 63 points surpassing his own 2012-13 total of 44 points. Even more impressive, McKelvie is quickly closing on the Crusader record for total points in a career with 141 points  ( 61 goals / 80 assists ) . The current record rests with Kevin Mengel  ( alumni 2013 ) who had 144 career points.

Sophomore Nico Delgiorno  (Columbia, Pa / Hempfield) is also pacing himself for record-setting numbers with team leading 31 goals combined with 25 assists. Delgiorno's 56 points adds to McKelvies staggering 63 points creating an offensive nightmare for opposition goaltenders.

The Vern snapped a two game losing skid with the 4-3 win and also broke Farmingdale's 5-game unbeaten streak.

Alvernia 4, Farmingdale St. 3