Box Score Shippensburg, Pa. - Millersville field hockey just needed a little reminder at halftime of Friday's PSAC Semifinal against West Chester. West Chester dominated the first 35 minutes, but the Marauders flipped a switch and eventually overcame the Golden Rams 1-0 on Sarah Bomberger's goal in overtime to advance back to the PSAC Championship for the second year in a row.

Possibly feeling the weight of expectations and having defeated No. 4 West Chester (14-5) twice in the regular season, Millersville (17-2) started slowly against a relentless Golden Ram attack, which earned three corners and placed a pair of shots on goal in the opening two minutes. It continued throughout the half, and Lauren Sotzin made five saves, and Emily Litchford turned another away just in front of the cage. Millersville's offense, however, managed just one shot and came up empty on several point-blank opportunities. That all changed over the final 37:20.

"I think we are a little nervy," said Behrens. "We know what's at stake now. Getting that second taste of championship experience, we were playing not to mess up. We were tentative, but when we got more definite, we got more structure in our attack.

"In my language, I was sharp-tongued with them," laughed Behrens. "I reminded them of how great they can be when they rely on each other. Sometimes we try to do everything by ourselves because we really want the goal instead of playing good, structured Millersville field hockey. I thought after that, they played inspired."

West Chester recorded 13 penalty corners and did not surrender a single corner to the Marauders through the first 35 minutes. Fortunately, the Millersville back line defense, led by Sotzin, was up for the challenge. None of West Chester's 10 first-half shots made it past the junior keeper.

Sotzin finished the game with nine saves and each one was paramount. The Marauders' finally broke through 2:20 into the overtime period when Bomberger took a shot from the left of the cage that tipped off of a West Chester defender and past keeper Audree Bonavita. Rachel Dickinson, who took Bomberger's feed off the corner, was credited with the assist.

Quite possibly, it was the game of Sotzin's career. "She was so dialed in, into the moment," said Behrens. "When she is that much in the zone, she is unstoppable. She had her teammates backs, and we probably made her do too much. We are lucky they didn't get one or two in on us."

Millersville evened play in the second half with each team taking three penalty corners, and West Chester holding a slight edge (5-4) in shots. The Marauders placed all three shots on goal, but Bonavita matched Sotzin save for save.

West Chester gained the first opportunity in the overtime session. Off of a penalty corner, Marnie Kusakavitch took a shot that was saved by Sotzin. Millersville quickly advanced forward and earned a corner where Bomberger lifted a shot high past Bonavita and off of the stick of a diving West Chester defender.

Millersville returns to the PSAC Championship game for the fourth time in school history. Millersville lost to West Chester in last season's title game, but returned the favor by topping the Rams three times this season. It is the first time Millersville has ever defeated the same opponent three times in one season.

The Marauders are in search of their first conference championship since 1986. A win would also set a school record for wins in a season. Game time against Shippensburg from Robb Sports Complex is 2:30 p.m.