GAME OVERVIEW
• Millersville advanced to the PSAC semifinals for the third year in a row with the win over Bloomsburg on Tuesday. The Marauders took down the Huskies 2-0 with
Margaret Thorwart scoring two goals in the victory. One came off
Olivia Hershey's rebound and the other was assisted by Hershey. The win sends fourth-seeded Millersville to East Stroudsburg Friday for the next leg of the tournament. The Marauders take on the No.1 seed East Stroudsburg, which is also the top-ranked team in the Division II.
• For Millersville, which was ranked No. 3 in the latest NCAA Atlantic Regional ranking, not only would a win over ESU advance them to a fifth-consecutive PSAC title game, it would also solidify its standing for the NCAA Tournament. ESU and Shippensburg have each put together convincing seasons with each squad going 9-1 in PSAC play. The teams are ranked first and second respectively in the regional rankings. That leaves the third and final spot down to a few teams, and with Bloomsburg's loss to Millersville Tuesday, it's shaping up to be either Millersville or West Chester.
• Defending champion East Stroudsburg leads the PSAC in scoring margin (2.06). allowing just 0.72 goals per game. Robin Stevenson leads the team with 11 goals. Goalkeeper Danielle Ard ranks third in the league in goals against average and save percentage. On Wednesday, ESU coach Sandy Miller was named PSAC Coach of the Year. Five Warriors were named All-PSAC including four on the first team.
ABOUT THE SERIES
• ESU owns the advantage in the series between the schools, 32-22-1. The two teams have PSAC tournament experience against each other too, as the Warriors defeated Millersville in the 2015 PSAC title game, 1-0. Aside from two losses last season and one earlier this season to the Warriors, the Marauders have fared well, winning five of the last eight match-ups. East Stroudsburg won the national championship in 2015 and Millersville did so in 2014.
THE LAST MATCH-UP
• Millersville did not attempt a single shot on goal in the 1-0 loss to ESU on Oct. 8. Robin Stevenson scored the only goal of the game for the Warriors. Rumler made five saves in the loss. She faced several difficult situations, making a diving save and a kick save on back-to-back shots in the first half.
PSAC TOURNAMENT HISTORY
• The four semifinal teams are no stranger to the tournament. East Stroudsburg (2015), West Chester (2014, 2012), Millersville (2013) account for the last four championships, and Shippensburg has made five championship game appearances since 2003. Millersville's run of four consecutive championship game appearances follow Bloomsburg's run of 10 in a row from 2002-2011. Millersville last won in 2013. Millersville has posted a shutout in each of its last four PSAC semifinal wins. In addition to the 2013 win, the Marauders won the tournament in 1985 and 1986.
