Box Score

Junior Chris Bucks scored in double-overtime to keep the Albright College men's soccer team in the playoff mix, with a 3-2 win across town at Alvernia.

The Lions are now in a four-way tie for the final two Commonwealth Conference postseason spots and a daunting home game with defending national champion Messiah looming on Saturday night. If Hood were to beat Lebanon Valley and Arcadia defeats Lycoming, that complicated tiebreaker could conceivably grow to as many as six teams. Depending on how it all shakes out, Albright may still need a result against Messiah to qualify.

Albright's leading scorers got the Lions off on the right foot, as senior Tyler Waters scored off a give-and-go from junior Vitali Zaluha in the 11th minute.

It was Waters' 27th career goal, while Zaluha was coming off a two-game, four-goal week in which he won Commonwealth and ECAC Player of the Week honors.

Zaluha then assisted freshman Andrew Sussingham right after halftime, and the Lions looked in control.

Alvernia stunned the visitors with goals from Josh Wollaston and Alex Martyn to force overtime however.

Zaluha had a pair of looks in the opening 10 minutes, including one that was saved by Alvernia goalkeeper Matt Wells.

The junior was still all over the Crusaders after assisting on Waters' goal. He ripped a shot off the crossbar less than two minutes after Albright took the lead, and forced Wells into another 22nd minute save.

In that four-minute stretch, Peter Bockarie had a chance cleared off the line, and Sussingham and Waters also had shots saved by Wells.

Despite controlling the first half, disaster nearly struck for the Red and White as they conceded a penalty just before halftime. Sophomore goalkeeper Austin Aldinger came up big however, saving Wollaston's kick.

Albright improves to 7-9-2, 3-4-1 and will play #1 Messiah at 8 p.m. on Saturday in Shirk Stadium.