BLOOMSBURG, Pa. – Millersville's tough defense and energy are what earned the team a trip into the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championship game, and it was also what kept them in reach of a championship for the entirety of Sunday's match-up with host Bloomsburg. The Marauder defense wouldn't budge, holding a Bloomsburg offensive attack that dominated possession to no goals through 88 minutes of soccer. But in the closing minutes, Bloomsburg scored the game's lone goal, ending Millersville's memorable run through the tournament, 1-0.
Millersville goalkeeper Reagan Kolinski recorded six big-time saves and produced some of her best work of the season. The Marauders did this without All-PSAC East First Team defender Lauren Downey, who also led the group in assists this season. The redshirt senior was unable to play due to an injury in the semifinal match against Gannon.
Even with the Marauders' nearly perfect performance on the defensive end of the field, the Huskies were able to finish a goal in the 88th minute that would end up as the game-winning score and lifted them to their second PSAC title in three years. Millersville's efforts didn't go unnoticed as the Marauders reached the PSAC title game for just the second time in program history and for the first time since 2003. This is also the third year in a row that head coach Matt Procopio and his staff have led the program to the PSAC Tournament. Prior to 2018, the program had two total PSAC Tournament appearances in 24 years.
HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Marauders saw their only two shots of the first half come in the 13th minute of play.
Savannah Rennix sent two shots toward the Bloomsburg defense, which ranks first in the PSAC in goals allowed this season. The junior's first shot was blocked and the second was taken in by Alexa Ryan.
• Following the Rennix shots were seven Bloomsburg shots, three resulting in Kolinski saves. The Marauders wouldn't let anything through as the first 45 minutes were scoreless.
• Second half play started with a Kolinski save just a minute in that led to the first Marauder corner opportunity of the afternoon.
Cassie Blyth sent the ball in but no Marauders could control the ball, giving the possession back to Bloomsburg.
•
Rachel Leisher recoded the only shot on goal for Millersville in the second half, coming in the 84th minute of play.
Taylor Pogachar controlled the rebound and sent another shot in that was just high.
• Bloomsburg's Abby Groff got past Kolinski and headed a ball into a wide-open goal in the 88th minute for what ended up as the game-winning goal.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
• 22' | Erin Ranegan sent a ball from just outside the right end of the 'Ville box. Kolinski made a crucial save to keep the game at zeros, diving backward and getting her glove on a ball that was nearly in the top-left corner of the net.
• 88' | Abby Groff took a pass from Natalie Holmes and found herself in front of a wide-open Millersville net. Groff headed the ball in to put the home team up with less than two minutes remaining in the title game.
POST GAME REACTION FROM HEAD COACH MATT PROCOPIO
•
On the team's defensive effort: "Defensively we held things up okay, but we faced a lot of pressure for long stretches of the game. The loss of Downey at the back meant us adapting a bit in a championship game which is hard to do."
•
On the postseason run: "The girls battled to make it in. We were in must- win games for weeks. The girls rose to the occasion and battled through each game one at a time. Proud of them working to get to this point."
•
On being the second team in program history to reach the PSAC final: "For these seniors, they have accomplished many historic moments in our program. We did everything we could to help them go out making even more history with the first championship, but we were unable to make that happen. Either way, it is still a tremendous accomplishment we can all take away from this season."
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• Bloomsburg out-shot 'Ville 18-4, including a 7-2 edge on frame.
• The Huskies held a 6-1 edge on corners.
• Leisher and Rennix each recorded a shot on goal in the match.
• Kolinski recorded six saves to keep the Huskies scoreless through a majority of the match.
NOTES
• Millersville's senior class produced three PSAC Tournament appearances--a feat never accomplished at Millersville--and also made the program's first NCAA Tournament appearances in 2018 and 2019. The 2019 club set a program record for victories.
