Louisville, Ky. - Millersville field hockey started 2014 on a mission. Mission completed. Olivia Hershey's goal with 24 minutes left in the second half and an epic defensive stand in the final minutes propelled the Marauders to a 1-0 victory over LIU Post and to the NCAA Division II Championship.
 
The first-ever NCAA Championship for a women's sport at Millersville came from a program that just four years ago finished 7-11. The dramatic turnaround under Coach Shelly Behrens featured a 53-13 record over the last three years, two NCAA Tournament appearances and three PSAC Championship appearances. The Marauders exited in the NCAA Semifinals in 2013 and were determined to return and bring home a different.
 
"It's numbing to be quite honest," said Behrens.  "I'm full of joy. I've been with these girls for four and five years. We've talked about doing this. We went in one day and said we think we can do it and this is how we are going to do it. To have it come to fruition is more than a little overwhelming. I'm so proud of them. They've done everything we've asked them to do, and it hasn't been easy on the way."
 
For the school-record 13th time, Millersville shut out its opponent, and the zero in the title game came against a Pioneer club that entered the game averaging better than four goals per game and ranked No. 1 in Division II in goals against average. It was only the second time this season LIU Post was shut out. Millersville, ranked No. 1 in goals against average for the second year in a row, proved again that defense wins championships.
 
"In Division II hockey teams often win on attack," said Behrens. "LIU Post has the most goals scored (in the nation) and to keep them off the board and have a clean sheet, that's saying something. They are a very good team. "
 
Senior goalkeeper Lauren Sotzin withstood the LIU Post onslaught of 13 shots by making four saves, including three in the final 10 minutes when the Pioneers ramped up their attack. LIU Post totaled six shots off of three penalty corners as time slowly melted off the Trager Stadium clock. In one 17-second span with less than two minutes to play, LIU Post cracked three shots. The first was saved, the second was blocked by Rachel Dickinson, setting up another penalty corner. The third shot from 30-goal scorer Keliann Margiotta rocketed just wide left. Millersville's defense kept LIU Post from a clean look the rest of the way.
 
"I really truly knew they were not going to let anything in," said Behrens. "They were that determined. I saw more than a couple green shirts in that circle but it was just us being a little more determined and little more tenacious and getting the ball out."
 
"(The final five minutes) went by very slow," said Sotzin. "I have to give it up to LIU Post. Their offense—oh man—there was so many of them. We were keeping calm, making sure we marked everyone because that was what we wanted to work on. The last couple of games we had some slip ups but our marking was on point and that helped them not get to the balls."
 
The Marauders' defensive lock-down was helped by an opportunistic offense that while putting only two shots on goal, made its shots count. Millersville controlled play from the out-set, forcing three penalty corners in the opening five minutes, but the lone shot from Dickinson was blocked.
 
The game-winner came 11:10 into the second half. LIU Post's Dani Crouse was whistled for a green card after diving to make a defensive play on the left sideline. Heshey inserted the penalty corner pass to Dickinson and slide behind the defense. Dickinson's shot rose into traffic, and Hershey put just enough of her stick on the ball to direct it into the cage.
 
"I knew I had to put the shot (on goal)," said Dickinson. "It was so exciting. So much was going through my mind, I can't even pinpoint the feelings. So many emotions on that field."
 
"We've used that corner call," said Behrens. "We thought we could split their seam pretty well. They were bringing numbers to the ball. I thought we were rushing a little bit. It was a little slip-and-pull around them. It's a call we've used two or three times. (Erika Parks) is a tough goalkeeper. They were flooding the ball for sure and getting the ball around them was a challenge. We had a couple chances there, I'm glad that one went in."
 
LIU Post finished with a 13-5 advantage in shots, including an 8-3 edge in the second half. Dickinson was credited with two shots, and Alicia Youtz and Hannah Whitman both took one.
 
An historic win came from a record-setting group. The eight seniors, which endured the 7-11 season in 2011, compiled a 52-13 record over the last three seasons and set a record for the most games won over a four-year span. Millersville field hockey had reached the precipice of the sport just once before—in 1985—and that ended in a loss to Trenton State.
 
"Right now I think of a group of players than in 1985 lost a national championship with Millersville was classified at Division III," said Behrens. "Some of them were my teammates at Lower Dauphin High School. I've gotten some great notes from them and from Mrs. (Marge) Trout asking us to finish what they started. I couldn't be happier that we are the first women's team at Millersville to win a (NCAA) championship. It's overwhelming. I can't help but think of the women from 1985. This is as much theirs as it is ours."
 
Not only did the 2014 club set school records for wins (20) and shutouts (13), but Sotzin also set program records for career wins (54) and shutouts (32). Rachel Dickinson finished her Marauder career ranked second in assists with 22. Katelyn Zapp's 16 goals in 2014 rank second all-time, and she ranks fifth in career goals scored. Champayne Hess' 28 career goals ranks eighth. Lauren Gerhart's 10 assists came within one of the single season record.