MILLERSVILLE, Pa. – To win a conference championship in any sport is difficult. To win consecutive PSAC men's soccer championships is a feat that only two other teams have accomplished in more than 50 years—before today. The Millersville Marauders defeated No. 5 Gannon University 1-0 on a chilly Sunday afternoon to claim back-to-back PSAC titles in front of a raucous home crowd at Pucillo Field.

The victory is the program's third overall PSAC men's soccer championship, having also raised trophies in both 2011 and 2018. No PSAC team has earned back-to-back titles since East Stroudsburg accomplished the feat in 2006 and 2007. Lock Haven is the only other PSAC squad in the history of the conference to have won consecutive titles.

Bob Hennessey scored the only goal of the game just 30 seconds into the second half, when Matteo Adiletta threaded a ball to him in the penalty box. Hennessey cut it back to his left and tucked the ball away just inside the left post. The Millersville victory ends Gannon's 11-game winning streak. The Marauders have won three games in a row and six of their last seven.

Millersville goalkeeper Darian McCauley was voted tournament MVP after keeping a clean sheet in today's game in addition to making eight critical saves in Friday's 2-1 semifinal win over Mercyhurst.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
• Chances were few and far between in the first half. Millersville came close to opening the scoring in the 19^th minute when Spencer Shortt got free down the right wing and crossed the ball into the box for Frank Astarita. Astarita knocked it down and sent it on the half-volley towards frame, but Gannon keeper Chandler Hallwood was there to keep it out of the net.
• After a scoreless first half that saw only four total shots, the Marauders sprinted out of the gates in the second half. Just 30 seconds in, quick passing from the Ville in the midfield created space for Matteo Adiletta to spot freshman Bob Hennessey making a central run into the penalty box. Adiletta delivered the ball to his feet, Hennessey cut it back and smashed it past Hallwood to open the scoring.
• The Marauders kept up the offensive pressure and almost added a second goal in the 52^nd minute. Jacob Gosselin sprinted past the Golden Knight defense on a counterattack and had a one-on-one opportunity against Hallwood. The shot deflected to Shortt who had just arrived into the box and his follow-up shot was miraculously cleared off the line by a Gannon defender to keep the ball out.
• Another quality chance was created in the 65^th minute when it was again a counterattack and a two on one chance for Nathan Erb and Gosselin. Gosselin took it himself and the shot was saved by the foot of a diving Hallwood. Gannon remained within one goal but could not find the equalizer.

POST GAME REACTION FROM HEAD COACH STEVE WIDDOWSON
• On winning consecutive championships: "To go back-to-back is unbelievable. People don't do it. When we walked off the field after the 5-1 battering by Wilmington in the first game of the season I don't think anyone would have given us a chance at making the final but we were fantastic today. My guys were absolutely superb. This is what we've built up to. It's a marathon not a sprint and we've timed it right again."
 
• On the response to the message at the half: "We came out in the second half doing exactly what we said to do at halftime. We got a little too reliant on going big and we needed to put the ball down, find feet, pass and move, and break them down that way. It was exactly what we needed to do and it led to the goal and gave everyone a lift."
 
• On tournament MVP Darian McCauley: "Darian has had some tough moments in his career. So to step up in the semifinal the way that he did and then the final in the way that he did and to win the finals MVP… I think it is a just reward for his hard work and dedication and our belief in him. I think there were at least three or four MVPs for us on the day—our center backs were fantastic as well—but I am very happy for Darian."

• On the upcoming NCAA tournament: "I'm looking forward to going up against these teams again because I know we can do well against them. We played four of the top five teams. I'm not sure how far they've developed but we've certainly developed a long way. I think we have the belief that if we get one of those teams again we can handle them and we can actually beat them. I'm excited to just enjoy the NCAA tournament and see how far we can go. At the end of the day, we've got our insurance card, we've got a championship and that can't be taken away from us. We're a very dangerous team because we're relaxed and on our day we can compete with anybody."

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• Gannon out-shot Millersville 9-8 but the Marauders held a 6-4 advantage in corner kicks.
• Bob Hennessey's goal was his fourth of the season. No Millersville freshman has equaled that total since Jaxson Burns scored four in the 2015 season.
• Matteo Adiletta's assist was his second of the season.
• Spencer Shortt and Hennessey tied for the team lead in shots with two apiece. Nathan Erb, Nikolas Provazzo, Jacob Gosselin and Frank Astarita each finished with a single shot.

NOTES
• The Millersville victory improves the program's all-time record vs. Gannon to 7-7 and 2-1 in PSAC tournament contests.
• Millersville has appeared in four of the last five PSAC championship games.
• The Marauders' back-to-back appearances in PSAC title games is a feat that has not been accomplished by a conference school since the Ville did so in both 2015 and 2016.
• The clean sheet kept by Darian McCauley is his sixth of the season. He has now shut out 24 opponents in his career, which ties the Millersville program record set by Matt Langione who played from 2007-2010.

UP NEXT
• The Marauders await their fate that will be determined on the NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Selection Show, which is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 17^th at 6:30 p.m.