READING, Pa. -- Senior Gabby Frake made nine saves, but Alvernia rode three second-half goals to a 4-0 victory over Albright in a Commonwealth Conference field hockey game on Wednesday at Shirk Stadium.

It was a damaging loss for the Lions as they seek to finish in the top four of the Commonwealth Conference in hopes of qualifying for the conference tournament. Albright entered the game at 2-2 in league play and tied for third place with Stevenson, Messiah and Alvernia. The Alvernia victory and a 6-0 victory by Messiah over Hood lifts both of those teams into a third-place tie with 3-2 conference records. Stevenson lost to conference-leading Lebanon Valley on Wednesday and it joins Albright at 2-3 in conference play and tied for fifth place in the standings.

Albright controls its own destiny in the hunt for the conference tournament as it visits Stevenson on Saturday (Oct. 25) and then concludes conference play with a game at Messiah on Oct. 28. The Lions finish the season on Oct. 30 with a non-conference game with Misericordia at 5 p.m. in Shirk Stadium.

After holding the Crusaders to just one first-half goal, the Lions got outshot 13-1 in the second half.

Natalie Messaros put Alvernia ahead 1-0 at the 4:26 mark of the first half with an unassisted goal.

Summer Liberto pushed the lead to 2-0 at the 41:10 mark of the second half when she tallied an unassisted goal. Margaret Wentzel then scored two goals late in the second half to stretch the lead for the Crusaders.

Amanda Smith led Albright with two shots, while Kendra Delgado and Samantha Martin each had one shot.