Lake Wales, Fla. (March 6, 2023) - Alvernia University (2-2) made a late fourth quarter stand to defeated Berry College (8-1, Receiving Votes) in a 12-11 decision on a hot Monday afternoon at Warner University in Lake Wales, Florida.

The Golden Wolves held a 7-5 lead at the half, but Berry came back and tied it up at 11-11 with 6:20 to play. Olivia McCambly scored the go-ahead goal with five minutes to play, and Alvernia's defense - behind goalie Kasey Fox - took it from there to secure the 12-11 win and had the Vikings their first loss of the season.

Both teams went scoreless for nearly eight and a half minutes to open the game until Haleigh Lackner found McCambly for a man-down goal with 6:47 to play in the first. Alvernia then had a 2-man up opportunity to close out the half, but were unable to add onto its lead.

The Golden Wolves continued to be man-up to open the second quarter, and Sophia Ruocco was able to convert for the Golden Wolves off the feed of Mackenzie McKinney. Hailey Miller then made it a 3-0 game three minutes later on an unassisted goal. Miller then made it a 4-0 game on a backhanded shot just inside the left post as Alvernia continued to hold the Vikings off the board. 

The Vikings finally broke through with 8:48 to play in the opening half, but Alvernia answered right back with a goal from Lackner.

The Vikings and Golden Wolves traded free position goals over the next three minutes - with Alvernia's goal coming off the stick of Sherrin Smith - to make it a 6-2 game with 3:32 left in the second quarter.

Moky then scored off the assist of Lackner to put Alvernia up 7-2 with 3:07 to play, but the Vikings scored three goals in the final three minutes of the half to make it a 7-5 game going into the third quarter.

A free position goal from Lackner put Alvernia on the board in the second half to give the Golden Wolves an 8-5 lead, but Berry then rattled off two goals in less than two minutes to get within one, 8-7, with 8:53 to play in the third.

A goal from Lackner three minutes later, followed by a man-up goal from Smith, gave Alvernia the 10-7 lead going into the fourth quarter. Lackner then scored to open the fourth quarter, giving Alvernia a four goal lead, 11-7, with 11:40 to play.

The Vikings then came surging back, scoring three goals in just over two minutes, to get within one, 11-10 at the midpoint of the quarter.

With 6:20 remaining in the game, the Viking evened it up at 11-11. But, McCambly put Alvernia back in front, 12-11, on a goal off the assist of Miller with five minutes to play. 

Alvernia's defense took over from there. The Golden Wolves forced a turnover on Berry's next possession. Fox then made a save on a free position shot to keep the Vikings off the board with four minutes to play. The Golden Wolves then took nearly two minutes off the board on their next possession. 

Berry's next shot went off the post. Berry made two saves as Alvernia tried to add on to its lead, giving the Vikings the ball back a minute to play. The Vikings cleared the ball coming out of a timeout, and went down the field. Haley Lawson - who had 20 goals coming into the game - fired a shot on Fox. Fox made the save to keep the Vikings from evening it up. Fox then kept the ball away from the Vikings for the final 25 seconds to secure the 12-11 win.

Fox finished with 13 saves in the win in net for Alvernia. Lackner finished with six points on four goals and two assists. Lackner finished with six caused turnovers and six draw controls. Miller finished with two goals and one assist.  Cailyn Hawley finished with five ground balls and two draw controls. 

Alvernia is back in action on Wednesday in Florida against Piedmont.