Reading, Pa. (Oct. 3, 2015) - Alvernia University (6-4) used a strong second half with two Margaret Wentzel goals to cruise to a 3-0 victory over Widener University (5-4) in its MAC Commonwealth Conference home opener Saturday afternoon.
 
After knocking on the door for most of the first half, the Crusaders finally broke through in the 26^th minute when Wentzel pushed a pass across the front of the goal to Summer Liberto, who smashed home her fifth goal of the season.
 
The Crusaders started to pull away in the second half when they earned themselves a corner and just two minutes in, Wentzel scored her first goal on a pass from Melanie Lowry to extend the lead to 2-0.
 
Alvernia kept pushing and almost extended their lead again in the 46^th minute when Taylor Dorrin threw a pass in front of the goal giving two Crusaders opportunities to score, but they just couldn't connect.
 
Wentzel put the game away for good in the 61^st minute when she took the ball on a breakaway and slotted her shot past the goal keeper to extend the Crusaders lead to 3-0, and give Wentzel her 15^th goal on the season.
 
Widener did not go down without a fight as with only 40 seconds left in the game, they managed to get their only shot of the game on goal, but Breanna Smith was on the line for the defensive safe to keep Widener off the board.
 
Rebecca Brosious earned the shut out in net for the Crusaders, her first on the season. 
 
Alvernia returns to action Tuesday when they face King's College in a non-conference home game at 4:00.