Reading, Pa (Nov. 12, 2023) - Connor Kraycik netted four goals to lead #1 Alvernia University (11-7-1) to a 4-0 victory over #8 Saint Elizabeth (12-4-5) in an ECAC men's soccer quarterfinal matchup Sunday afternoon at Alvernia. 

Kraycik's four goals broke the Alvernia record for goals in a game which was previously three and had occurred nine times in Alvernia Men's Soccer history. Ryan Cogill dished out three assists on the day and Michael Pierce also tallied an assist for the Golden Wolves. 

Alvernia tallied its first goal of the day in the 22nd minute of the game when Matthew Kerr headed a clearance up the field to the feet of Cogill, Cogill then flicked a backheel pass to Kraycik who slotted his shot past the Eagles keeper to put Alvernia up 1-0. 

The Golden Wolves scored their second just five minutes later when Kerr found the head of Cogill who flicked the ball to a streaking Kraycik, Kraycik controlled the ball and beat the keeper to net his second goal in five minutes and give Alvernia a 2-0 lead after 27 minutes of play. 

Just under two minutes later Alvernia extended its lead to 3-0 when Pierce drove down the sideline and played a ball into Kraycik who beat a defender and curled his shot into the top right corner of the goal to record a hattrick and make it a 3-0 game. 

The Golden Wolves would fire three more shots at the Saint Elizabeth net but could not put any on target as Alvernia took a commanding 3-0 lead into the half. 

Alvernia netted its fourth and final goal of the game in the 57th minute when Cogill diced an Eagles defender on the right wing, he drove down the sideline and played a cross into the box, Kraycik caught the cross on the volley with his right foot and smashed it past the keeper to tally his fourth goal of the game and broke the record. 

The Golden Wolves defense held strong in the final 33 minutes of the game to secure the 4-0 victory and advance to the ECAC semifinal next Saturday. 

Evan Solley gets the win in goal for the Golden Wolves in 59 minutes of action, Nick Rothenberger tallied the final 31 minutes of the game in net. 

Alvernia is back in action next Saturday when they take on the winner of #4 FDU-Florham. Alverina will host the final four of the ECAC Championship with the two semifinal games set for Saturday. The other semifinal will feature #2 PSU Behrend vs. #6 Goucher.