GLENSIDE, Pa., Thursday, March 24, 2011-- The Knights responded from an early 0-2 deficit with three unanswered goals for a 3-2 lead midway through the first half of today's Middle Atlantic match up with visiting Alvernia University, but the Crusaders came back to take a two-goal lead at halftime on their way to out-scoring the Knights 11-2 in the second half to remain undefeated in the league at 3-0 and 6-0 overall.  Sophomore Meghan Fallon led the Knights (1-3, 0-3) with six goals in the 21-10 loss for Arcadia, who last played 13 days ago.

After falling down by a 2-0 margin, first-year Katie Bauer's first collegiate score sparked a 3-0 run for the Knights, with Fallon adding goals two and three to put Arcadia on top 3-2 with 16:23 to play in the half. But the Crusaders stormed right back with four unanswered free position goals in a four minute span as Alvernia regained the lead 6-3. The 'Vern would tack on another before Fallon stopped the bleeding as she converted on a free position cutting the Knights deficit to three, 4-7. Another Alvernia goal made it 8-4 Crusaders and when junior Stephanie Holguin was sidelined for three minutes with a yellow card, what happened next was a welcomed bonus as the Knights rallied for three straight short-handed scores and suddenly it was a one-goal game with the 'Vern in front 9-8. Up 10-8 with 1:06 to play, the Crusaders allowed Arcadia first-year Sara Volk-Perez through the middle for the score, again cutting the deficit to one for the Knights, but Alvernia would add one final tally in the half for a 10-8 advantage at the break.

Alvernia went the distance in the opening five minutes of the second, controlling the pace of the game and netting four unanswered goals to stretch their lead to 14-8 before Fallon would break their momentum with her fifth of the game with 25:08 to play. The visitors went on another rally over the next ten minutes with four more unanswered goals taking a 18-9 lead with 15:26 to go. Fallon, who seemed to have her way with the Crusader defenders, added her sixth with 10 minutes remaining but that goal capped the Knight's scoring and the 'Vern tacked on three more for a 21-10 final.

Junior Amalie Kreitman, who got the start in net, registered two saves and five goals against through the opening 16:56 before being relieved by first-year Deanna Thompson who finished with 17 saves and 16 goals against in the loss. Alvernia's Jennifer Czarnecki stopped eight shots for the victors through regulation. Volk-Perez finished with two goals while Bauer added seven ground balls and three caused turnovers. Senior Kaitlyn Gamber played a solid game on the defensive line finishing with five ground balls while leading the team with five caused turnovers and three draws.

The Crusaders led in shots 49-19 and draws 23-10.Turnovers were even at 21 apiece while the Knights controlled ground ball possession 31-19 and committed four less fouls, 24-28. The Crusaders went 8-for-10 on free position attempts while Arcadia went 2-for-3.

The Knights continue on with Middle Atlantic Conference play, looking to for their first league victory this Saturday at Misericordia University at 1 p.m.