Perez stands out in Field Hockey's 3-2 loss at Alvernia

READING, PA: (Sept. 25, 2010) - Sophomore keeper Marissa Perez (Philadelphia, PA/Archbishop Ryan) made 15 saves for Arcadia but Alvernia University would score three unanswered goals to erase a 2-0 deficit and win today's Commonwealth Conference Field Hockey opener over Arcadia University, 3-2 in Reading. The loss is the third straight for the Knights who fall to 5-4 overall (0-1 CC) while today's win snaps a two-game losing skid for Alvernia, who improves to 5-3 overall (1-0 CC).

Perez was tested early, denying three different Crusaders in the opening three minutes, giving the momentum to Arcadia, who would score twice on three shots in a five minute span to take a 2-0 lead. Senior Ashley McCarthy (Norristown, PA/Norristown) nearly got the Knights on the board, but her shot hit the post. The Knights would be awarded a penalty stroke at 7:32 and senior Adrianne Altera (Califon, NJ/Vorhees) did put Arcadia on the board first, with her 7th goal of the season. The pressure from Arcadia's attack seemed to rattle Alvernia keeper Samantha Leck as minutes later, sophomore Marilyn Beatty (Chalfont, PA/North Penn) recovered a rebound with Leck sprawled out and deposited the ball into the lower right of the cage, giving the Knights a 2-0 lead at 12:34. It was Beatty's 6th goal of the season. However, the Crusaders would take the momentum back with two more shots on Perez, both denied by the sophomore keeper followed by a defensive save from McCarthy and another Perez save, this time off a penalty stroke to keep Alvernia off the board.

Alvernia's Samantha Landis sent a shot in on Perez, headed wide until Lauren Guldo got her stick on the redirection past Perez for her 1st of the season, to make it a one goal game at 22:19. The Crusaders wouldn't yield a shot to the Knights and kept the offensive pressure on, earning a corner, and for just the second time all season would capitalize on the opportunity to knot the game at 2-all. Landis was credited with the goal, one-timing the pass from Erin Solley with just 1:25 to play in the half.

Alvernia opted to switch keepers to start the second half, calling on the services of Samantha Wilt. Meanwhile, Perez began the second like she did the first half, turning aside Alvernia's first two shots on goal in the opening two minutes. The Crusaders, relentless in their pursuit of the tie-breaker, would get it at 40:39 when Miranda Peto passed across to Kyle Dillman, who's shot went low, right, past Perez to put the Crusaders on top 3-2. The goal was Dillman's 5th of the season and capped three unanaswered scores from Alvernia. Alvernia's next three shots would sail wide until Dillman found an opening in the 45th minute but this time was denied by Perez who salvaged the one-goal deficit for Arcadia. Peto then got off a shot and followed up with a second, both Perez saves to keep her Knights in the game. After three corner opportunities for Arcadia turned up empty, the Knights would register one more shot on goal in the 58th minute from senior Ashley Griffith (Cape May, NJ/Cape May Regional) but Alvernia's leading scorer Tonya Rutt made a key defensive stop to preserve her team's one goal advantage. Arcadia would use their timeout at 64:18 but were unable to produce an offensive attack good enough to solve the Crusader's defense.

Alvernia controlled the offense, leading 29-5 in shots and 19-5 in corner chances.

The Knights will look to break out of this three game dry spell, hosting cross conference opponent DeSales University on Sept. 29 at 4 PM.

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