Alvernia captures championship
at Sixth Annual Cialella Soccer Classic

CAMDEN (Sept. 9, 2006) – The Alvernia College Crusaders captured the championship of the Sixth Annual Cialella Soccer Classic here Saturday by posting a 5-0 victory over Delaware Valley College in the opening game of the night.

Wesley College, which also had a shot at the title entering the night in the mixer format, tied host Rutgers-Camden, 1-1, in the nightcap to finish second.

Alvernia posted a 2-0 record over the two-day event, while Wesley went 1-0-1. Rutgers-Camden (0-1-1) finished third and Delaware Valley (0-2) was fourth.

The Crusaders placed four players on the all-tournament team, including Offensive MVP Zach Naylon (Shillington, PA/Governor Mifflin, DE) and Defensive MVP Mike Allegra (Philadelphia, PA/Archbishop Ryan). Alvernia’s other all-tournament team members were Cody Gambler (Mohrsville, PA/Schuylkill Valley) and Tim Marcinek (Philadelphia, PA/LaSalle).

The title marked the first Cialella Soccer Classic championship for Alvernia, which finished as the runnerup in 2004 to Rutgers-Camden.
Rutgers-Camden returns to action Tuesday when the Scarlet Raptors host Albright College at 7 p.m.

Alvernia 5, Delaware Valley College 0

The Crusaders raced to a 3-0 halftime lead and went on to outshoot the Aggies, 21-1.

Sophomore Tyler Absalom (Fleetwood, PA/Fleetwood) scored the lone goal Alvernia needed on a penalty kick at 6:24. His shot followed a takedown in the box.

Junior Cory Lush (Reading, PA/Reading) and sophomore David Schaeffer (Pottstown, PA/Pottstown) scored first-half goals at 17:28 and 36:12, respectively, for the Crusaders, assisted by Marcinek and freshman Adam Lush (Reading, PA/Muhlenburg).
Alvernia added unassisted second-half goals by junior Nathan Pletscher (Oley, PA/Oley Valley) and Marcinek.

Alvernia improved to 2-1-1 overall, while Delaware Valley fell to 0-4.

Rutgers-Camden 1, Wesley 1

In the nightcap, Wesley and Rutgers-Camden scored their goals within 27 seconds of each other late in the second half and played to a 1-1 tie. Rutgers-Camden held a slim 21-19 advantage in shots and had a 7-3 edge in corner kicks.

For the Wolverines, senior Joey Spino (Pennsauken, NJ/Camden Catholic) collected a loose ball in the box and broke a 0-0 tie with only 1:56 remaining in regulation. Had the Wolverines held onto that lead, they would have won the title on the tie-breaker of fewest goals allowed in the tournament. Moments later, however, the Scarlet Raptors notched the tying goal when junior Rodney Guishard (Mays Landing, NJ/Oakcrest) headed home a drive into the box by senior Michael Reed (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East). Guishard scored his team-leading third goal of the season with 1:29 remaining in regulation.

Rutgers-Camden senior goalie David Cunningham (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern) made seven saves, while Wesley senior Edward Hunt (Collegeville, PA/Perkiomen Valley) had eight saves.

Wesley stands at 2-0-1 overall, while Rutgers-Camden is 1-2-1.

Rutgers-Camden returns to action Tuesday when the Scarlet Raptors host Albright College at 7 p.m.

All-Cialella Soccer Classic Team

Zach Naylon (Alvernia), Offensive MVP
Mike Allegra (Alvernia), Defensive MVP
Cody Gambler (Alvernia)
Tim Marcinek (Alvernia)
Edward Hunt (Wesley)
Gary Palko (Wesley)
Peter Hulem (Wesley)
Rodney Guishard (Rutgers-Camden)
Michael Reed (Rutgers-Camden)
Chris Wellington (Delaware Valley)
Joe Antoniello (Delaware Valley)