ERIE, Pa. – The Millersville men's soccer team came into the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Final winning eight of their previous nine games and dominating on the defensive side of the field. The run through the PSAC Tournament, and especially Sunday's PSAC Championship match looked a lot like that. Through steady snow, Millersville blanked PSAC West champion Gannon and won its third-straight PSAC Championship by a 2-0 score.

The Marauders' defense owned the day, shutting out a 16-2-2 Gannon team that had failed to score in only one previous match this season. While Millersville managed to score two goals despite the snowstorm, offensive chances came by the boatload. 'Ville sent in 23 total shots, including 13 on frame in the winning effort. Capitan, Matteo Adiletta, got the Marauders on the board in the 66th minute off a pinpoint pass from Bob Hennessey. Three minutes later Matt Lynch connected with Anthony Calamia for a score that put the Golden Knights away for good.

Hennessey was voted the championship MVP after tallying an assist in both the semifinal and championship matches.

The victory clinches back-to-back-to-back titles for Head coach Steve Widdowson and the Marauders as they've won the PSAC in 2018, 2019, and 2021. It is Widdowson's fourth PSAC Title in his time at Millersville and his fifth time in the previous six seasons competing for the trophy. The dynasty built also earns a trip to the NCAA Tournament with an automatic bid.

The Marauders will watch to find out where they will be seeded Monday during the NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Selection Show at 6:30 p.m., ET on NCAA.com.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 • The Marauders came out firing in the first half, sending five shots at the Knights, with two of them landing on goal. Rocco Maximiliano was able to control chances from Spencer Shortt and Devven Frey to keep the game scoreless early. 
 •The Next Marauder surge came in the 33rd minute with Adiletta firing a shot on goal that was sent away by Maximiliano and picked up by Mike Kreider. Kreider was able to send in two more chances before the Knights cleared the ball out of their box. 
 • Gannon saw its only shot on goal in the 44th minute when Lennox Crews sent a ball in to the center of the goal that found Bobby Bosch for his only save of the afternoon. 
 • Second half play started similar to the first with Millersville sending multiple chances to the Knights and Maximiliano. Adiletta, along with Richy Valverde and Ronnie Minges all fired shots Gannon's way in the beginning minutes of the half but were unable to capitalize. 
 • Millersville finally got past Maximiliano midway through the second half with goals from both Adiletta (66') and Calamia (69') in what eventually clinched the title for the Marauders. 

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
• 66' | Hennessey sent a ball from the right side of the field to Adiletta, who was posted up in the box waiting to receive the pass. The captain controlled the ball of his chest and fired it off his right foot as he was falling down through two Knight defenders. The shot froze Maximiliano, as it touched the back of the net before he could react. 
• 69' | Lynch was able to find Calamia at the top of the Gannon box for an insurance score three minutes later. The redshirt junior received the pass from Lynch and blasted it past Gannon defenders & Miximiliana, who didn't react to the shot yet again. 
POST GAME REACTION FROM HEAD COACH STEVE WIDDOWSON
• On tonight's play and weather: "There was a slight chill in the air! I could not be prouder of the performance levels this weekend and especially today in very awkward conditions. I thought the longer the game went on the stronger we became. Gannon is a very good team, but I think today we thoroughly deserved the result."
• On back-to-back-to-back PSAC Titles: "This was a really special championship because of everything it took to get here. Our seniors had a very tough decision to make, but they trusted in the team, and I am so thrilled we were able to reward that belief. They worked so hard--as everybody has--and I don't think anyone can argue that our performances thoroughly deserved this championship."
• On moving on to the NCAA Tournament: "Great to be back in the national championship. Of course winning another PSAC Championship was high on our goal list but now we move on to another critical goal. The last few tournaments we have fallen at the first hurdle so we are very determined to make a bigger impact this time around. We will recover in the early part of the week, find out who we play and where then put every effort into getting ready to start a new journey." 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• Millersville out-shot the Knights 23-13, including 13-1 edge on frame. 
• 'Ville had six corner kicks, while Gannon had one. 
• Bosch recorded one save in the victory. 
• Adiletta, Lynch, and Calamia all recorded three shots on goal for the Marauders. Spencer Shortt, Devven Frey, Valverde, and Hennessey all sent one shot on frame. 
• Jake Altimore, Valverde, and Hennessey all received yellow cards in the win.

NOTES
•  Millersville is the first team to win three consecutive PSAC Championships since East Stroudsburg's run from 1997-2003. 
•  The team will look to earn the programs first NCAA Tournament victory since the 2013 season when they were Atlantic Region Runners-Up. 

UP NEXT
• The Marauders will watch the NCAA Men's Soccer Selection Show on Monday, Nov. 15 to see where they are placed in the bracket.