Field Hockey
Lebanon Valley 4, Alvernia 2

Box Score

ANNVILLE, Pa. - Jocelyn Novak's fifth hat trick in six games gave Lebanon Valley its seventh straight win with a 4-2 Oktoberfest victory over a tough Alvernia team on Saturday.

The Dutchmen (11-4, 3-1 CC) ran out to a 4-0 lead as they didn't concede a first-half shot to the Crusaders (9-5, 2-1 CC). Alvernia lost for the first time this season to an unranked team.

Cate Cusack provided the opening goal and Novak took it from there in front of the big homecoming crowd, scoring three straight goals to put the game out of reach. Alvernia made a late surge with two goals in the final six minutes. LVC led 21-7 on shots (including 11-0 in the first half).

Her hat trick puts Novak only three goals shy of breaking the NCAA Division III all-time scoring record; she sits at 129 for her career, needing 132 to break the record of 131 held by Allie Weir of Lynchburg.

After a tentative start for both teams, Cusack got LVC on the board when she redirected Jess Cox's shot on a penalty corner in the 18th minute. Caitlin Vasey created LVC's next goal, drilling a shot off the pipe that landed for Novak to finish in the 25th minute, and Vasey assisted on Novak's second with a cannon finish in the 34th minute.

Novak finished her scoring as she opened the second half by beating Erin Wunsch to the far post with a hard shot. Alvernia's Taylor Eichelberger and Miranda Peto scored late for Alvernia, but LVC played possession and ran out the clock before further damage was done.

Christine Poletti had three saves for LVC; Wunsch stopped nine in the loss.

LVC faces a tough task on Wednesday as they visit #2 Franklin & Marshall for a 7 p.m. start.