Box Score Reading, Pa. - Penn State Abington fought back from a 2-0 deficit against Alvernia College, but ultimately lost their second straight overtime game of the season to close out their 2012 campaign. The Crusaders got the game-winning goal 5:47 into the first extra period and move on to the semifinals of the ECAC Division III South Championships.
 
Alvernia (12-7-3), a team out of the tough Middle Atlantic Conference, got themselves on the board first in what would end up being a wildly offensive affair. In the 30^th minute, the Crusaders earned their fourth corner kick of the night, and managed to net a goal. After the ball was whipped into the box by an Alvernia player, it bounced several times as both sides fought for possession. Finally, sophomore midfielder Shawn Laskey got a foot on the ball and sent a lofted shot towards the net. The ball sailed over freshman goalkeeper James Carlin and into the net, giving the Crusaders a 1-0 lead.
 
Alvernia would extend their lead just ten minutes into the second half. After a Penn State Abington foul inside their own penalty box, senior midfielder Kyle Martyn stepped to take the penalty kick for the Crusaders. Martyn drilled a low hard shot to the left side of the net, and the home team jumped to a 2-0 lead.
 
As one of the more common clichés in soccer goes, however, a 2-0 lead is the most dangerous lead in the game. Almost immediately, Penn State Abington (12-5) set out to prove this statement to be true. In the 66^th minute, the Nittany Lions would take their first step towards making a comeback, with sophomore Alex Martins leading the charge. Abington was able to possess the ball through the midfield until it reached the feet of junior Andre Lynahping. Lynahping sent a pass to Martins in the left side of the penalty box. The talented sophomore was able to dribble around Alvernia goalkeeper Ben Diller and slip a shot inside the left post, making the score 2-1.
 
Just four minutes later, Penn State Abington tied the game up on a goal from senior Julian Ward that can arguably be classified as the goal of the year for the Nittany Lions. In a great individual effort, Ward was able to dribble his way through the midfield until he reached a point about 30 yards from goal. With no Crusaders defender coming to close down his shooting lane, Ward sensed an opening and let fly with a driven shot to the right side of the net. Diller was caught too far off his line, but truthfully all credit goes to Ward on the goal. Even had the Crusaders keeper been in perfect position, it is doubtful that he would've stopped the laser into the right upper 90 that Ward laced. With the brilliant goal, the teams were knotted back up at 2-2 with just 20 minutes left in regulation.
 
That final third of an hour was not short of excitement for sure. Almost immediately after the tying goal, an Abington foul in their own defensive third some resulting chippiness drew the ire of both sides, causing each bench to erupt onto their feet in protest. After several minutes of conversation with both assistant referees, the head official ultimately decided to send off an Abington player with a straight red card, while several other players from both sides ended up with yellow cards. Furthermore, both sides had several great chances to jump into the lead with a goal, but ultimately the full 90 minutes ended with both teams still deadlocked at 2-2.
 
As the first overtime period began, both sides again were able to make deep runs into the attacking zone. Each time, however, the defenses were able to keep their opponents from even recording a shot. Finally, and unfortunately for the Nittany Lions, Alvernia was able to get a shot on goal, the only one they would need in the extra frame. It was Kyle Martyn once again who helped do the damage for the Crusaders, sending in a perfect cross from the right corner. Waiting on the other end of the pass was sophomore Joe Raymond, who had managed to get a small amount of space on the Abington defender marking him. Raymond jumped to meet the ball in the air and sent a header past Carlin and into the left side of the net.
 
With that final, heartbreaking goal, Penn State Abington was knocked out of the ECAC tournament and now shut down their season with a 12-5 record. With a strong, young squad, the program looks to reload in the offseason and come right back next year to defend their NEAC regular season championship.