Reading, Pa. (Oct. 30, 2018) - Alvernia University enters this week's MAC Commonwealth Field Hockey Tournament as the second seed, and will host third seeded Arcadia University in the semifinals of the MAC Commonwealth Championship.

The game will get underway at 7:00 PM at Alvernia University. Tickets are $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, and $2 for students. All Alvernia students are free with a valid I.D.

This is Alvernia's sixth appearance in the tournament since joining the MAC Commonwealth Conference in 2009. This is the Knights fifth appearance since joining the conference in 2008.

#3 Arcadia vs. #2 Alvernia
Alvernia (11-7) also went 5-2 in MAC Commonwealth play. The Golden Wolves earned the tie-breaker for the second seed with their win over Arcadia in the MAC Commonwealth regular season finale. The Golden Wolves went on a four game win streak to close out their regular season. Alvernia is 7-4 at home, compared to 4-2 on the road. The Golden Wolves posted four players to the All-MAC Commonwealth team. The Golden Wolves offense is led by Second Team All-MAC Commonwealth Forward Morgan Mondschein, who has 13 goals and three assists on the season. Alvernia's defense is backed by First Team All-MAC Commonwealth Goalie, Emma Beamesderfer. Beamesderfer is currently ranked seventh in the nation with a save percentage of .844. The junior goalie has allowed just 12 goals on the season for a 1.08 goals against average. Beamesderfer is 8-3 on the season with three shutouts.

Arcadia (13-5) went 5-2 in MAC Commonwealth play. The Knights only two conference losses came in their final two games of MAC Commonwealth regular season play. The Knights dropped a 4-0 decision to Messiah, and Alvernia topped the Knights 1-0 to drop Arcadia to the third seed in the MAC Commonwealth standings. Arcadia is 7-3 on the road this season. The Knights offense is led by Second Team All-MAC Commonwealth Forward, Gabby Sedares. Sedares has posted 11 goals and six assists on the season. First Team All-MAC Commonwealth Midfielder, Isabelle Houser, also leads Arcadia with two goals and seven assists. In net for the Knights is Ashton Evans. Evans has started 12 of Arcadia's 18 games. She has a save percentage of .768 and a goals against average of 1.09. Evans is 8-3 on the season with five shutouts. Also backing the Arcadia defense is First Team All-MAC Commonwealth defender Sydney Cyr. Cyr has made nine defensive saves for the Knights on the season.

Alvernia took the 1-0 win over Arcadia on October 24th of this season. Junior Andrea Zimmerman, who has seven goals on the season, scored the Golden Wolves game-winning goal. Alvernia and Arcadia, formally Beaver College, have been conference opponents since 1992 when the two were members of the PAC. The Golden Wolves have the 17-9 series advantage over the Knights, winning the past four matchups.

#4 Lebanon Valley vs. #1 Messiah
Messiah College (17-0) claimed the top seed in the MAC Commonwealth Tournament for the fourth-straight season after going 7-0 in MAC Commonwealth play. The Falcons are looking to claim their 12th-straight conference title, and 17th overall. Messiah's offense is led by Megan Wetzel, Hannah Palm, and MAC Commonwealth Co-Offensive Player of the Year, Kezia Loht. The Falcons defense is led by Shelby Landes, who is 17-0 on the season with five shutouts. Landes has a 0.50 goals against average and .692 save percentage. The Falcon defense is also backed by MAC Commonwealth Defensive Player of the Year, Shayna Landis. The Golden Wolves fell to the Falcons in 2-1 double overtime loss earlier in the season. The Falcons also topped the Dutchmen in overtime in a 2-1 win.

Lebanon Valley College (9-9) claimed the final playoff spot as the fourth seed. The Dutchmen are 4-3 in MAC Commonwealth play. The Dutchmen are led by Co-Offensive Player of the Year, Cecile Kat. Kat is ranked fifth in the country with 1.35 goals per game and 23 total goals scored. The Dutchmen defense is led by Tori ByDeLey. ByDeLey is 7-7 on the season with a 1.92 goals against average, and .795 save percentage. Alvernia topped Lebanon Valley in a 2-1 decision earlier this season.

The winner of the Lebanon Valley vs. Messiah matchup will face the winner of the Arcadia vs. Alvernia game on Saturday at the highest remaining seed.

For complete MAC Commonwealth Championship information, visit the 2018 Championship Central.