Reading, Pa. (Sept. 4, 2024) - Alvernia University (1-1) scored three unanswered goals to down Muhlenberg College (0-2) in a statement win for the Golden Wolves on Wednesday night in non-conference field hockey action at Alvernia. 

The Golden Wolves trailed 3-2 with 90 seconds to play in the third quarter before a goal from first year Kelsy McClintock evened it up at 3-3. Caroline Martin then scored two goals for Alvernia in under a minute early in the fourth quarter. Alvernia held off Muhlenberg from there to take the 5-3 win.

How it Happened

• The opening minutes of the first quarter was a back and forth contest between the Golden Wolves and the Mules, but Muhlenberg found the back of the net on a putback goal off a corner opportunity with seven minutes to play in the quarter. Alvernia was held to just one shot on goal in the opening frame as Muhlenberg took the 1-0 lead into the second quarter.
• Alvernia opened the second quarter pressing the Mules, and a goal from Caroline Martin off her own rebound in the 21st minute put Alvernia on the board and tied the game up at 1-1.
• The tie lasted six minutes before Muhlenberg retook the lead on a penalty corner to go up 2-1 with three and a half minutes to play in the half. Alvernia did not have another opportunity in the half as the Mules took the 2-1 lead into the break.
• Alvernia needed just 35 seconds into the second half to even the game back up as McClintock found Ava Michael for her first goal of the night to make it a 2-2 game.
• The Mules once again answered and retook the lead off a putback shot with nine minutes to play in the quarter.
• After nearly seven minutes of back and forth between the Golden Wolves and the Mules, McClintock found the back of the goal off the assist from Martin to tie the game at 3-3 with 90 seconds to play in the quarter.
• With the momentum on their side to open the fourth quarter, the Golden Wolves wasted little time retaking the lead as Martin and McClintock exchanged roles and Martin found the back of the net on the assist from McClintock to make it a 4-3 game in favor of Alvernia just 47 seconds into the final frame.
• Less than a minute later Martin found the back of the net again off the pass from Gianna DeGregory as Alvernia worked through a corner opportunity. Martin's third goal of the night made it a two goal game, 5-3, with nearly 13 minutes still to play.
• Alvernia's defense took over for the rest of regulation. The Golden Wolves held Muhlenberg at bay and allowed just one shot on goal - which was saved by Alvernia goalie Lexi Boettcher -  in the final 13 minutes. The Golden Wolves went on to take the game, 5-3.

Inside the Box Score

• Caroline Martin surpassed her 2023 season goal total (2 goals) tonight with a three goal performance. She also added an assist to her stat line, and led Alvernia with seven shots on goal.
• Kelsy McClintock finished with two assists and a goal as she scored the first points of her collegiate career.
• Lexi Boettcher finished with 11 saves and the win in net for Alvernia. The 11 saves marks her second consecutive double-digit save performance, and sixth such performance of her career.

Of Note

• Tonight's matchup was the first Alvernia and the Mules faced each other since 2015 and 2016 when they met up in back-to-back ECAC tournaments. Alvernia took the 2015 matchup in double-overtime fashion, but the Mules eliminated Alvernia in 2016 on an untimed penalty stroke to advance to the 2016 ECAC Championship. Muhlenberg went on to defeat Kean University 3-0 the following day to win the 2016 ECAC Title.

Up Next

• Alvernia hosts Wilkes University on Saturday afternoon at 1:00 PM. The Colonels also enter Saturday with a 1-1 record after falling to William Patterson, 3-2, in overtime earlier this evening. Alvernia has a 13-game winning streak against Wilkes heading into Saturday.