Annville, Pa. (Oct. 27, 2021)- Alvernia University (8-9, 5-3) defeated Lebanon Valley College (9-9, 5-3) 2-1 on the road Wednesday night in a crucial MAC Commonwealth field hockey matchup.
 
With the 2-1 win, Alvernia locked up the #4 seed in the MAC Commonwealth Championship and dropped Lebanon Valley down to the #5 seed. With those seeds, Alvernia will host Lebanon Valley on Monday evening in the #5 vs. #4 play-in game.
 
Alvernia's offense started strong, maintaining steady possession in the opening eight minutes. Then, early in the eighth minute, Alvernia's Felicia Getz inserted a corner to Brook Spezialetti. Spezialetti sent it back to Getz off the left wing, and Getz buried it into goal to give Alvernia the 1-0 advantage.
 
Alvernia had another scoring opportunity late in the first quarter which was saved by the Dutchmen's goalie. The Golden Wolves closed out the first quarter with a 1-0 lead.  
 
The Alvernia offense kept applying pressure, tallying three shots and two corners. But, Lebanon Valley held off any attempt for Alvernia to add to its lead.
 
Lebanon Valley recorded its first shot of the contest in the 26^th minute, which sailed wide of the net. The half ended with Alvernia leading, 1-0.
 
The second half saw Alvernia start strong as it continued to test the Dutchmen's defense. Just over four minutes into the second half, Alvernia was awarded a penalty stroke. Spezialetti went to the line for Alvernia and converted the stroke to give Alvernia the 2-0 advantage.
 
Lebanon Valley nearly got on the board in the final minute of the third quarter when Alana Antonello fired in a shot that went off the post.
 
Alvernia looked to add to its lead in early in the fourth quarter with back-to-back corner opportunities, but Alvernia was able to get off just on shot – an unsuccessful attempt by Gianna DeGregory – to keep it a 2-0 game.
 
After Alvernia held off three corner opportunities by Lebanon Valley, the Dutchmen were awarded a penalty stroke opportunity of their own. Sorrell Long stepped up for the Dutchmen and buried it off the right hand of Alvernia keeper Hannah Wolfe to put Lebanon Valley on the board, 2-1.
 
Alvernia responded with Madison Potthoff and Gianna DeGregory both recording shots over the next three minutes, but neither were able to add to Alvernia's lead.
 
The Golden Wolves were able to hold off a late corner opportunity and survived three minutes of man-down play to take the 2-1 win.
  
Wolfe picked up the win in net for Alvernia after seeing all 60 minutes of action.
 
Field Hockey returns to action on the road Saturday at DeSales University for the regular-season finale.