Reading, Pa. (Nov. 12, 2016) - Second-seeded Muhlenberg College (17-3) scored on a penalty stroke with no time left in regulation to take a 1-0 win over top-seeded Alvernia University (20-3) Saturday afternoon in semifinal action of the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III Field Hockey Championships at Alvernia.

The Muhls earned an untimed penalty corner just as regulation ended and flooded the circle with pressure.  Alvernia senior goalie Rebecca Brosious made pad stops on each of the first three shots from the Muhls.  The fourth shot was wide of Brosious but hit the Alvernia defender guarding the right post and the officials conferred before awarding a penalty stroke.

Brosious got her blocker on the stroke from Muhlenberg senior Emily Boyle, but the shot had enough momentum to carry into the net.

Muhlenberg advances to the ECAC Final and will face the winner of Saturday's other semifinal featuring Kean University and FDU-Florham--seeded second and first in the ECAC North region.  All three games of the Final Four are played at Alvernia.

Alvernia and Muhlenberg even up their series score at one win apiece.  Both games have been played in ECAC Championships.  Alvernia knocked off Muhlenberg last fall, 2-1 in overtime, on its way to the ECAC South Region title.

Muhlenberg held the balance of pressure early in Saturday's game forcing Brosious to make three of her season-high 16 saves in the first 11 minutes of play.  The Muhls ended the first half with a 7-1 advantage in shots, but Brosious turned away all seven keeping the score tied 0-0.

The Muhls had more of the same over the first 10 minutes of the second half with Brosious adding four more saves to her day before Alvernia took a timeout with 25 minutes left in the game.

The Crusaders were able to tilt the field back into their favor putting together some offensive pressure that resulted in a run of three penalty corners.  Muhlenberg goalie Emma Rosenthal saved the only shot the Crusaders were able to get on net and Alvernia junior Andrea Wysocki hit a shot off the post with 13 minutes left in regulation.

Alvernia had one final corner play with four minutes left in the game, but couldn't produce a shot, then Muhlenberg's late pressure resulted in a call for a corner just before the final horn.  The play resulted in three quality shots from right in the center of the circle with Brosious up to the task all three times before the final shot that resulted in the penalty stroke.

Alvernia wraps up the season with a record of 20-3--the second time the Crusaders have reached 20 wins under head coach Laura Gingrich.  Senior All-American Margaret Wentzel ends her career with 92 goals--good for second place on the all-time list at Alvernia just one shy of Becky Macchione's ('06) 93.  Wentzel does graduate with the career assists record (42) and points (226).

#2 Muhlenberg 1, #1 Alvernia 0