READING, Pa. – Lebanon Valley's 2014 season came to an end in the MAC Commonwealth postseason tournament play-in game on Tuesday night, Nov. 4. The Flying Dutchmen, the tourney's #5 seed, fell to #4-seeded Alvernia by the slimmest of margins, a 2-1 decision in Reading. Senior
Kyle Fronk provided LVC's lone score midway through the first half but it wasn't enough.
The well-matched and evenly played contest was a rematch of the teams' 1-1 in their first meeting this fall. Tuesday night's matchup provided more of the same as each squad traded control of the field in the early going. The Crusaders eventually struck first when Devin Wilt converted an attempt of free kick cross from Zack Wilson in the 22nd minute.
On the same day he was named to the Commonwealth All-Conference Second-Team, Fronk scored one of the biggest goals of his career. The defender gathered a cross into the box from freshman
Austin Freeman and connected on his attempt, netting the equalizer and his second score of the year in the 23rd minute.
The Dutchmen's best chance to grab the lead came in the 60th minute when they got off three great looks from point-blank range following a Freeman corner kick. LVC fired away but Alvernia goalkeeper Zach Rider made a clutch save of an attempt from sophomore
Gabe Stasyszyn before freshman
Matt Prince's shot sailed high of frame to end the threat.
The failure to convert proved costly when the Crusaders got an impressive score from Alex Martyn off an assist from Josh Wollaston ten minutes later. Flanked by a Dutchmen defender, Martyn made a move to create just enough space to get off a shot from a tough angle from right of Lebanon Valley's goal. His screamer and eventual game-winner somehow curled into the left side of the net and gave the home team a lead they wouldn't relinquish in the 70th minute.
The Crusaders outshot LVC 14-6 on the night and 7-3 in the shots on goal category. The Dutchmen held a 6-4 corner kick advantage and reigning ECAC South Rookie of the Week in Lebanon Valley freshman goalkeeper
Cam Avery made five stops on the night. Alvernia's Rider had to make just two saves to preserve the victory.
With their season now over, the Dutchmen finish the year with a 7-9-3 overall record and a 3-3-2 mark against Commonwealth competition.
