BOX SCORE Pottstown, Pa.  (Jan. 30, 2014) – Alvernia University recorded a huge statement victory over Richard Stockton College of New Jersey on a special prime time DVCHC conference meeting at the prestigious Hill School Arena. Playing a winter weather makeup game, the Crusader's (14-9- 1) fired off an unprecedented win over the visiting Osprey. The game may hold huge ramifications for determining the seeding position for the final ranking in the tough ACHA Atlantic Region.

The Vern, ranked #8 in the Atlantic, were facing conference nemesis Richard Stockton ranked #7, which was coming off pivotal wins over #2 ranked Farmingdale State and PSU Brandywine #5.  The Crusaders post season was hanging on the brink but a season-changing victory over Farmingdale last weekend may have injected new life into the season. 

Alvernia validated Saturday's win over Farmingdale with a lopsided offensive explosion featuring 10 different goal scorers.  Leading the way for the Vern was Jimmy McKelvie (Hatfield, Pa / North Penn) who reached a milestone career night passing former Crusader Kevin Mengel as the Crusaders' all time leading scorer. McKelvie had two goals with four assists. His running total is 146 points for his career.   McKelvie's two-goal night gives him 29 on the season. Both goals came on the power play. His second was an unassisted rocket wrist shot from the middle of the left faceoff circle ricocheting bar down barely visible to the naked eye. 

In addition to McKelvie, the scoring list is long and illustrious with leading goal scorer Nico Delgiorno (Columbia, Pa / Hempfield) scoring his team leading 31st and 32nd goals of the year.  Certainly not to be lost in the equation was sophomore Ian Meers' (Morgantown, Pa / Twin Valley) breakout night with the hat trick including what would eventually become the official game-winning goal on a shorthanded breakaway. Meers has returned with a vengeance notching five goals in his first four games back with the maroon and gold. Meers offers another viable offensive threat offering great speed and good scoring touch to the reinvented second line.

The game was well secured midway thru the second period as the Vern continued to capitalize on power play opportunities while snuffing out the several two man advantages that Stockton was granted.

In all, the Vern lit the lamp six times on the power play.  Offensive notables picking up goals included defenseman Brett Fernandes (Marleton, NJ / Cherokee)  and another South Jersey native senior Robert Savastano  (Sewell, NJ  /  Clearview).  First line standout Brian Callahan (Willow Grove, Pa / Upper Moreland) scored the first goal of the game with a low point shot just off the ice inside the left post. There should be no surprise that Callahan's return to the lineup following a three game suspension has resulted in two of Alvernia's biggest wins of the season to date.

Freshman Mike Urban (New Ringgold, Pa / Nativity) tallied a goal in the third period as did blue line sophomore Brett Sereikis (Aston, Pa / Cardinal O'Har).  Senior defenseman Vinnie Mazzanti (Langhorne, Pa / Neshaminy) fired one home from the blue line as well as sophomore Alex Harris (Cleveland, Oh / Bay High School).

Goaltender Patrick Murray (Cranford, NJ / Seton Hall Prep) picked up the win playing two strong periods in the cage for his second consecutive win and has been the goalie of record in both key victories over Richard Stockton this season. Murray faced 29 shots surrendering two in the first period.  James Bangar (Whittier, Ca / La Mirada)  relieved Murray for the third period and was perfect stopping all fifteen shots with some acrobatic efforts.

Alvernia 14, Richard Stockton 2