Crusaders top Knights 3-1 in league opener

GLENSIDE, Pa.: First year Morgan Paese (Harrisburg, PA/Bishop McDevitt) scored the first goal of her collegiate career, giving Arcadia an early 1-0 advantage but the Crusaders responded with three straight to win today's Commonwealth Conference Field Hockey opener 3-1. The loss drops the Knight's record to 1-8 (0-1 CC) while Alvernia improves to 5-2 (1-0 CC).

4:08 into today's contest, Paese recovered the ball out of scrum in front of sprawled out Alvernia keeper Erin Wunsch and lifted it into the far right corner giving the Knights a 1-0 lead. The first half was a close one, with the Crusaders finishing with a small edge in shots 4-3. The visitors finally evened the score at 24:52 off Leah Baer's shot into the far side of the cage. The score remained tied at 1 at the half.

Five minutes into the second half, offensive momentum for Alvernia turned into the go-ahead tally as Katy Eby converted a pass from Sam Landis for the score giving Alvernia a 2-1 lead. The Knights failed to reap the benefits of a hard-working backline and midfield with the Crusaders not backing down, out-shooting the Knights 11-3 in the second stanza.

In the 66th minute, the Crusaders, first awarded a penalty stroke that rang off the post, were then granted one of their game high 13 corner opportunities. The corner resulted in the insurance score on a one time blast from the top of the circle from Tonya Rutt to make the final score 3-1. Erin Solley assisted on the score from Rutt.

Wunsch made three stops for the win with Arcadia junior keeper Sarah Baumgardner (Hatboro, PA/Upper Moreland) turning away 6 shots. First year Molly Goldstein (Oak Ridge, NJ/Jefferson Twp.) and sophomore Pam Schweitzer (Fleetwood, PA/Fleetwood) each registered defensive saves in the second half.

Following Monday's 4 p.m. non-conference game at Cedar Crest, the Knights travel to DeSales on Wednesday, Sept. 28.

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