MANSFIELD, Pa. - Millersville got a fortunate bounce for its lone goal, but the defense and keeper
Kerstin Koons made it count as the Marauders closed the regular season with a 1-0 road win at Mansfield Saturday.
The Marauders (14-4, 7-2 PSAC) clinched the No. 3 seed in the upcoming PSAC Tournament by virtue of a three-way tiebreaker with East Stroudsburg and Shippensburg. Millersville will host No. 6 seed Bloomsburg Tuesday at Biemesderfer Stadium.
Pili Zaballa was credited with the game-winning goal off assists from
Bri Harsh and
Ashlynn Lennon. Zaballa's fourth goal of the season came on a penalty corner in the game's 36th minute. Harsh started the corner with a pass to Lennon. Lennon mishit the shot, but Zaballa, camped in the middle of the circle, just barely put her stick on the ball, and it trickled off and through three Mansfield defenders before finding the cage.
Koons made five saves for the shutout, and the Marauders withstood seven Mansfield shots in the final two quarters. Three of Koons' saves came in the game's final two minutes as she turned away three shots from Alex Esterling off two-straight Mansfield corners.
"It was a nice road win for the team today," said Millersville head coach
Shelly Behrens. "Mansfield is always tough, especially at home on their Senior Day. A lot of positives for us as a program, and we are proud we earned a PSAC playoff berth for the 11th-straight year. We're excited for PSAC's with team 77."
In addition to 11 consecutive PSAC Tournament berths, Millersville has advanced to at least the semifinals in 10 of those 11 seasons. Millersville is 3-0 in home PSAC Tournament games under Behrens.
Game time is set at 6 p.m. for Tuesday's game.