Reading, Pa. (Nov. 4, 2014) - Senior Alex Martyn ripped home a game-winning goal in the 71st minute to lead fourth-seeded Alvernia University (11-7-2) to a 2-1 win over #5 Lebanon Valley College (7-9-3) Tuesday evening in the play-in game of the Commonwealth Conference Men's Soccer Championships at Alvernia.

Both teams netted first-half goals separated by just over a minute setting the stage for Martyn's goal in the second half.  Fellow senior R.J. Fisher slotted a pass to Josh Wollaston who one-timed a chip over the defense and into the box.  Martyn charged past an LVC defender and ripped a shot past a diving Cam Avery just inside the far post.

"Josh gave it a nice chip over the defender and I just tried to hit it on frame and...side netting," said Martyn of his seventh tally of the season.  "I knew my teammates were going to crash if the keeper gave up a rebound."

Avery was in good position for the shot and was able to get an arm on the ball, but the slight redirection still found the back of the net.

The Dutchmen created plenty of pressure in the final 20 minutes--including a possession in the box in the final seconds--but couldn't get off a clean shot.

"I thought we played really well in the first half then the second half was very even," said Alvernia head coach Casey Moore of his team's third Commonwealth playoff win in the last four years.  "It kinda felt like we were haning on at the end.  It was a great finish from Alex and out guys kinda gutted out the victory."

Alvernia freshman Zach Rider controlled a number of crosses and corners, and made a pair of saves to earn the win, including a point-blank shot from the top of the 6-yard box.  Avery stopped five for the Dutchmen.

Alvernia controlled much of the possession for the first 25 minutes of play, and opened the scoring in the 23rd minute when freshman Devin Wilt collected a free-kick cross from Zack Wilson and drove home his fourth of the season.  LVC needed barely 60 seconds to respond earning a corner kick that resulted in a clean header from Kyle Fronk that the senior burried past Rider.

The Dutchmen created a dangerous possession in the 35th minute, but the shot from Gabe Stasyszyn was just wide to the left.  Alvernia senior Josh Wollaston had a pair of looks in the later parts of the first half, one from the right that swung outside the far post and a rolling shot from the left that bounced wide.

Rider recorded both saves early in the second half and Wollaston had a header go high in the 67th minute just before setting up Martyn for the game-winner.

Alvernia returns to Messiah---a trip its made without the desired result twice in the last three postseasons--for a Thursday semifinal starting at 7:00 p.m.  Third-seeded Arcadia University will make the trip up to #2 Lycoming College for the other semifinal at 2:00 Thursday afternoon.

#4 Alvernia 2, #5 Lebanon Valley 1