READING, Pa. – Two second half goals lifted visiting Alvernia College to a 2-0 Commonwealth Conference victory over host Albright in men's soccer action Tuesday night at Shirk Stadium.
Albright (5-7-1, 1-3 CC) kept the game scoreless in a first half that saw great ball control and quick passing from Alvernia, but a solid defensive effort had the teams go to the break tied at 0-0.
Alvernia held a 7-2 advantage in corner kicks, and a 6-3 edge in shots. Lions' keeper
David Oram made two saves in the first half, and a header by
Keegan Frick slid by the open post for the best opportunity for either team to score.
The Crusaders (8-5-1, 2-1 CC) continued to put the pressure on early in the second frame, and finally captured the lead off a quick three way passing play that was finished with a strike off the right foot of Alex Martyn. Martyn chested the ball down and fired it into the bottom right hand corner, with a volley off the side of his body from just inside the box in the 53
rd minute.
Albright fought back strong and carried the play for the next 10 minutes.
Vitali Zaluha had The Lions first opportunity when he was sent in on goal by
Shawn Murphy, but Alvernia keeper Zach Rider was up to the task.
Less than a minute later Albright had its best opportunity to get on the board, when
Kenny Horning won the ball on the left side and sent a through ball into the box, to a sliding
Austin Phillips, but Rider made a diving save to keep the clean sheet and the lead for the Crusaders as the game reached the hour mark.
Alvernia made a 2-0 game in with just less than 15 minutes to play, when Joe Raymond fired in a left footed shot that went across the goal and into the corner of the net and rebounded straight out. The referee immediately called it a good goal.
The Crusaders then took control of the contest and had multiple scoring chances, but Oram made two saves off a wide open Devin Wilt, and then thwarted Wilt a third time when his header seemed destined for the corner, but was denied by a diving Oram.
Alvernia outshot Albright 19-7, 13 coming in the second half. Oram made eight saves, many of the spectacular variety. Rider stopped three shots in securing the shutout and the victory.
Albright returns to action on Saturday for a Commonwealth Conference match at undefeated Messiah at 7 p.m.