PSAC TOURNAMENT HISTORYMillersville returns to the PSAC Tournament for the first time since the 2013 season. The Marauders fell to Slippery Rock in penalty kicks in the PSAC Semifinals, but ended up the NCAA Atlantic Region Runner-Up. The Marauders have qualified for the postseason tournament eight out of the nine years in which
Steve Widdowson has been at the helm. Millersville won it's first-ever PSAC Tournament Championship under Widdowson in 2011.
ABOUT THE SERIESMillersville has dominated the series since 2005 compiling a record of 13-4 including 11 straight victories from 2007-2012. Bloomsburg ended that streak in 2013 with a 2-1 victory. The Huskies shutout the Black & Gold in 2014, but the Ville returned the favor this season with a 3-0 win at Steph Petit Stadium.
THE LAST MEETING (MILLERSVILLE 3, BLOOMSBURG 0) - SEPT. 9, 2015)Millersville shutout the then 18th-ranked Bloomsburg Huskies by a 3-0 score. Through the first 35 minutes of both squads first PSAC affair, the rivals traded possession playing solid defense throughout the back line. On the counter attack in the 37th minute, Millersville found its breakthrough as
Justin Torres-Groover fed freshman
Danny Kline who deposited the ball into the back of the net. The Marauders took their 1-0 lead into the halftime break. Only three minutes into the second period, the Black & Gold were once again flying up the field as a through ball was mishandled by the goalkeeper leaving a golden opportunity for the Marauder attack.
Jaime Vazquez raced in and calmly gathered the ball and fired it into the left corner of the goal for a 2-0 lead. In the 80th minute the Marauders added an insurance effort on a goal scored by
Chase Flickinger. The freshman midfielder was assisted by
Jaxson Burns who whipped in a dangerous cross from the left side of the field that was drilled into the nylon by Flickinger.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTThe Huskies advanced to the PSAC Semifinals with a 2-1, two overtime win over Lock Haven. The Huskies were able to get on the board in the 17th minute when Austin Transue was able to break free from a Lock Haven defender, gather the ball in, and drill a shot to the right of the opposing keeper for a 1-0 lead. Lock Haven equalized in the 83rd minute and was the lone team to attempt a shot in the first overtime period. In the second overtime both teams were working the middle of the field when Josh Smith for Bloomsburg came out of group with the ball, made a nice pass to Transue, who then took a few dribbles and drilled the game-winner for the Huskies. For the match the Huskies outshot Lock Haven, 21-12, and held a 5-4 edge in corner kicks.
The Bloomsburg offense is led by Austin Transue's 14 goals and four assists. He scored both of the Huskies goals in the PSAC Quarterfinal win over Lock Haven.
Goalkeeper Jared Ott has become a stabilizing force between the pipes for Bloomsburg after earning his first start on Sept. 11. Ott has the most saves on the team (44), his goal against average (1.08) is the fourth-best mark in the PSAC and he has recorded four shutouts on the year.
MARAUDERS IN DEPTHMillersville has allowed the fewest goals (12) in the PSAC and have been the second most dangerous offense within the conference. Millersville has netted 34 goals and even more impressive, the Black & Gold have recorded 32 assists on the year, which is three more than the next closest PSAC school California (Pa.).
Justin Torres-Groover and
Christopher Sosa have been the most efficient set-up men. Torres-Groover has tallied a team best five assists and Sosa has recorded four assists from his central midfield position.
The Marauders have posted nine shutouts on the season as it began the year with an 11-0-1 record--the best in program history.
For the season,
Jaime Vazquez has paced the Marauder offensive attack as he ranks first in the PSAC in points (40), goals (18) and game-winning goals (7). The 40 points surpasses a career-high for the Bernville, Pa., native, who needs 13 more points to surpass the program record. His 18 goals have garnered national recognition as it ties him for third best in all of Division II. Vazquez has been named PSAC Player of the Week twice (Sept. 14 & 28). The last Marauder to surpass 40 points on the season was Sean Szerba who scored 23 goals and tallied six assists in 1998.
10 different Marauders have netted a goal on the season, including five freshmen (
Jaxson Burns,
Chase Flickinger,
Dylan Fogerty,
Kyle Finsterbush and
Danny Kline). Burns has produced the second most points (11) on the team as he has scored four goals and assisted on another three efforts. Flickinger has each netted three goals on the year, which is third best on Coach
Steve Widdowson's squad.
Goalkeeper and captain
Kohl Orner has been extremely composed and reliable in net since entering the starting lineup on October 4, 2014. In 2015, Orner has played every minute of each of Millersville's 17 matches. Orner has been the leader of the backline of defense that consists of the likes of a combination of usual starters
Devin Rediker,
Tanner Brenize,
Kyle Finsterbush,
Drew McMenamin and
Ahmed Qaisi. Orner has made 60 saves on the year and his nine shutouts is the top mark in the PSAC.