Reading, Pa. (Mar. 11,  2015) – Julie Sutton and Angel Adams collected five goals apiece as Alvernia University (1-0) opened the 2015 season with an 18-12 win over Eastern University (1-5) in non-conference action Wednesday on Alvernia's Turf Field.

Eastern netted the first goal on the day, taking its only lead within the first three minutes of play. The Crusaders hit their stride though just under the 20-minute mark as Adams and Sutton combined for three goals in two minutes to take the 3-1 advantage. Candace Knight helped to extend the lead to 4-1 off the pass from Abby McCarthy.

 Eastern was able to answer to cut the lead to one, but Sutton struck again, taking back the three goal lead with back-to-back unassisted goals.

McCarty followed up Sutton's goal with one of her own less than 30-seconds later to put Alvernia up 7-3. Eastern answered her goal, but McCarty netted her second on the day to keep the four point margin.

However the Eagles did not settle, scoring two in a row to cut the Crusaders lead 8-6. Alvernia would have the final say, using goals by Brooke Campione and Jacquelyn Strange in the last two minute to take the 10-6 lead going into the half.

Eastern opened the second half in the same fashion as the first, this time netting two goals in the opening three minutes in attempts to strike a comeback at 10-8.

Alvernia refused to let that happen, using a three minute long, three goal run of its own to reestablish its distance. Campione started off the run, leading the Crusaders to the 13-8 margin.

Eastern would net two more goals to come within three, but Adams, Sutton and Strange would each find the goal in a two minute span to pull ahead 16-10.

The Crusaders and the Eagles would exchange two sets of goals before the end of the half as Adams answered both Eastern points.

Alvernia outshot Eastern 42-25 on the day, with 33 shots in the second period.

Colleen Reilly picked up the win in goal for the Crusaders, making seven saves on the day.

Alvernia returns to action on Saturday, hosting Misericordia in a lacrosse double-header. Women's game start time is set for 1:00 pm