MILLERSVILLE, Pa. - A third-quarter goal from Kara Koch was the difference for the Bloomsburg Huskies as they dealt Millersville a 2-1 loss Wednesday night Biemesderfer Stadium.

It was a blow to Millersville's postseason hopes as the Marauders entered the night one game behind the Huskies in the PSAC standings on the outside looking in at the top six. Six of the Marauders' seven losses have come by one goal, but they are by no means out of the race. Three games remain on the schedule, and four teams vying for the final two spots are separated by no more than a game. 

"I like us right now," said Millersville head coach Shelly Behrens. "I like how we are performing. We have been putting the pieces together all season. We are telling them to go risk everything. We are just one step away, one turn of the page. I know we can play with anyone. They know it, and that's what we'll continue to do."

Close calls continued to be a trend for the Marauders on Wednesday. The Marauders out-shot Bloomsburg 9-5, placed four more shots on goal than the Huskies, and totaled nine penalty corners to Bloomsburg's four. Eight minutes into the game, Emily Buss placed a shot on the cage that got by Bloomsburg keeper Jackie Nevel, but Huskies defender Meg Barnard was in the right place at the right time for a defensive save. Millersville played two players up for a time at the end of the third period after two Huskies picked up cards. They were unable to take advantage. The one shot mustered in the final quarter was a reverse from Caitlin Wasserman that Nevel saved. Millersville fully controlled possession in the final quarter, but was seemingly always one touch away from finding the equalizer. 

"It comes down to finishing," said Behrens. "The effort to stick the ball in, finish it, and have composure in the circle--understanding when to earn a corner and when to score a goal...We generated some possession on our attack tonight. It was better than it has been. We are right there, just one step away. It's the hockey IQ. If you don't have an opportunity for a shot, get a corner. We have goal scorers and we need them to step up."

Lexy Freed put Bloomsburg on the board early in the second quarter, but Wasserman answered just before the period break. Off a corner insert, Wasserman's shot bounced squarely off the leg pads of Nevel, right back to Wasserman's waiting stick. She didn't miss on the second try, pushing her shot low and to the left of Nevel. 

The game-winner came 9:48 into the third quarter when Millersville's defense was caught spread thin and Bella Culp fired a pass 20 yards up the middle of the field to Kara Koch. Against a pair of Marauder defenders, Koch rocketed a reverse shot into the upper left-hand corner of the cage. 

"Defensive error," said Behrens. "Great shot. We'll give up a great shot, but I wish we could have held strong. We had some great performances in the back tonight. I feel like we are sharp, and we are just waiting for that page to turn."

GAME NOTES

• After recording a team-leading five assists, Wasserman scored her first goal of the season. 
• Bloomsburg has won the last two over Millersville after the Marauders won 14 of 16 from 2012-2022. 

UP NEXT

• Millersville plays its final home game on Saturday, Oct. 26 against Frostburg State.