Men's Ice Hockey (Club) 12/14/2014 8:36:00 PM by Katie DeJulio (Asst. SID)

Upperclassmen Carry Vern Over PSU

BOX SCORE

West Chester, Pa. (Dec. 12, 2014) - Alvernia University (16-3-1) finished up the semester with a competitive 6-2 victory over PSU Brandywine Friday evening at Iceline Arena. With the win, the Crusaders finalized their first series sweep of the historically strong PSU hockey team in Alvernia program history.

The Vern, who notched a 6-1 victory over PSU in game one of the series back in November, was led this time around by Nico Delgiorno and senior team members Brian Callahan, Jim McKelvie and Dustin Stuck.

The Crusader were stymied in the first period by exceptional PSU Lions goaltender Andrew Hieber. The Vern launched 18 shots on Hieber in the opening period alone and he was equal to the task. PSU skated into the first intermission with a 1-0 lead and Hieber was single handedly responsible for the goose egg posted. The Vern reloaded in the second period and the quality shots continued as Nico Delgiorno finally tallied a home the equalizer. Delgiorno handled defenseman Anthony Galeano's low whistler from the top right face off circle with quick hands and redirected a missile into the top of the cage. The Delgiorno showcase continued only moments later with PSU on the power play. Nico grabbed a Lions offensive zone blue line turnover and outraced both defensmen into the clear while a full striped a winner thru Hieber's five hole. The short handed goal represented Delgiorno's second shortie in as many games and both coming at critical junctures in each game.

The 2-1 Crusader lead was very short lived however as PSU evened the score minutes later on a seperate power play opportunity. A tightly contested 2-2 game remained open on both ends with both teams getting quality chances. Appropriately enough, the Crusaders go ahead goal and eventual game winning tally happened at the 17:04 mark of the second period as Delgiorno completed his hat trick with great puck movement orchestrated by linemates Jim McKelvie and Dustin Stuck's quick hands and precise passing. The 3-2 lead would prove to be enough but just over a minute later Brian Callahan picked up his own rebound and patiently stashed home the insurance goal.

Alvernia entered the final period with a little wiggle room however Crusader goaltender Mike Durofchak had some exceptional moments in the Vern's cage when the game still was very much undecided. Durofchak stopped 41 shots on the evening, only surrendering a 2-on-1 odd man rush and a power play blue line cannon shot. Durofchak looked very much at home in his old stomping grounds of Iceline Rink 1.

Alvernia finished off the scoring with a new familiar face - Dustin Stuck. Although in his first season as Crusader, the senior is very much an experienced gamer, picking up 2 goals and 2 helpers on the evening. Stuck's tenacious work ethic continually produces great results that are now manifesting themselves into consistent offensive production. Stuck's goals included stealing a page out of Nico's book, exploiting Hiebers five hole and then deking the PSU goalie after being the recipient of connect the dot passing from McKelvie and Delgiorno.

Final offensive numbers revealed that all of Alvernia's points registered from senior representation and Junior Nico Delgiorno, who scored his own version of a "natural hat trick". Delgiorno scored the game tying goal, the go ahead goal and the eventual game winning goal all in the second period.

The most unusual yet interesting play of the game came from RJ Cummings in the final minutes of the game. In true Gong Show form, the game began to spiral out of control for several moments that allowed for the play of the game. Cummings, working in the defensive zone along the half boards, became intangled with several Brandywine players who were stickworking and physically double teaming Cummings. Coach O'Connell recalled, "Rog went to the ice with much help from the Bradywine defenseman, however he managed to disengage the Lions opponent off his stick and all in one motion from his knees Rog hurled his $249 twig over the glass and high into the security net." The officials, somewhat mystified and in hysterics, allowed the show to go on. Assistant Coach Andrew Dziedzic was quoted, " I've never seen that before."

The Crusaders will partake in a semester break, vacating the ice until the new year. Alvernia will look to continue this succesful season in January, returning to Body Zone on the 18th to host Bryn Athyn in DVCHC action.

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Players Mentioned

#7 Brian Callahan: F; 6' 0"; Senior

#18 RJ Cummings: F; 6' 3"; Senior

#91 Nico Delgiorno: F; 5' 10"; Junior

#4 Anthony Galeano: D; 5' 8"; Senior

#11 Jim McKelvie: F; 6' 1"; Senior

#21 Dustin Stuck: F; 5' 7"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#7 Brian Callahan
: 6' 0"; Senior
: F

#18 RJ Cummings
: 6' 3"; Senior
: F

#91 Nico Delgiorno
: 5' 10"; Junior
: F

#4 Anthony Galeano
: 5' 8"; Senior
: D

#11 Jim McKelvie
: 6' 1"; Senior
: F

#21 Dustin Stuck
: 5' 7"; Senior
: F