MILLERSVILLE, Pa. - The pouring rain and near-freezing temperatures didn't slow the Millersville Marauders one bit. Four Marauders accounted for four goals in a 4-1 rout of Bloomsburg in Tuesday's PSAC Quarterfinal game at Biemesderfer Stadium. 

The win pushes the Marauders on to the PSAC Semifinals for the 11th year in a row. It also improved the program to 4-0 in PSAC Tournament home games under head coach Shelly Behrens. The three-goal margin of victory was Millersville's largest over Bloomsburg since 2014, and the four goals scored were the most by a Millersville team in a postseason game since 1986.  

"Congrats to Bloom on a great season, and for us, I'm very proud of the kids getting out to a 2-0 lead, and despite the conditions, they really responded well," said Behrens. "Bloom is a good team. You have to be smart and find ways to get the ball around them. We had some different people score, which was great to see."

Caitlin Wasserman recorded her first goal of the season and assisted on Kristin Strijdom's fourth quarter goal. Bri Harsh picked up two assists, and Kortlin Yetter scored her fourth goal of the season. And it was the PSAC's leading goal scorer, Kate Strickland, that got the Marauders rolling early. Strickland recorded her 18th of the season, pulling within one of the Millersville single-season record. 
 
The Marauders scored once in every quarter and led 4-0 before Bloomsburg got on the scoreboard with fewer than three minutes to play. Millersville held a narrow 10-8 advantage in shots and a 9-7 edge in corners, but after Strickland's early goal, the game never felt that close for a team that improved to 9-0 at home this season. Bloomsburg was limited to two total shots in the second and third quarters, and that's when Millersville pulled away. 

Strickland buried the first shot she took off a penalty corner insert from Harsh just 3:14 into the game. In the 26th minute, Yetter hustled toward the cage away from the action and punched in a shot from Wasserman that had initially been saved. 

Bloomsburg had its opportunity to cut into the lead with no time remaining in the second quarter, earning back-to-back corners. Millersville keeper Kerstin Koons stopped Kara Koch's shot on the first try, and Bloomsburg misplayed the insert on the second, ending the half. 

Wasserman made the Huskies pay for that missed opportunity, as she scored on a corner just 1:40 into the third quarter. Strijdom capped the scoring 1:27 into the fourth quarter, knocking home a pass from Wasserman. 

The rain started to fall just at the end of warm-ups and remained a steady downpour throughout the 60 minutes. Millersville made the necessary adjustments.

"You have to adapt to the conditions," said Behrens. "You have to change your grip. There is a different skill set involved. Receiving was probably tough tonight. It's harder with hitting because of the temperature and the stick can fly out of your hands. I really thought the girls handled it well." 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• Bloomsburg opened the game with four penalty corners in the first quarter, but earned just three after that and none in the fourth. Millersville recorded at least two in all four quarters. 
• Wasserman, a defender, had taken just four shots all season before Tuesday night. She had not recorded a point since Sept. 17. 
• Harsh has recorded at least one point in five-straight games and now has five assists in her last four. 

MORE FROM COACH BEHRENS
• On how to handle postseason success: "Postseason is a one-game season. Every time you get the play you've earned it. You win and move on. We have a 24-hour rule to enjoy this. It was nice to win at home. I'm stunned to have done this 11 years in a row--very proud of our teams for turning up and doing what needed to be done. Nothing bothered our team tonight, and I'm very proud of their performance."

UP NEXT
• Millersville now faces No. 2 seed Shippensburg at 3 p.m. on Friday. It will be the seventh PSAC Tournament meeting between Millersville and Shippensburg since 2012. Millersville has won five of the last six PSAC Tournament matchups. Shippensburg eliminated the Marauders in overtime in 2021.
• The semifinal and championship games are hosted at Kutztown. Kutztown and East Stroudsburg play on the opposite side of the bracket.