EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. - The Millersville men's soccer program defeated East Stroudsburg, 2–1, in its final match of the regular season.
The Warriors opened the game with strong offensive pressure, earning two corner kicks in the first 90 seconds. The first corner led to a shot on goal that was stopped by Millersville goalkeeper Gavin Massimi, who finished the night with four saves.
East Stroudsburg continued to test Millersville's defense with another shot on target that was again handled by Massimi. The Marauders responded quickly as captain Roy Parkyn found freshman Brian O'Neill for a goal to give Millersville a 1–0 lead.
The Warriors earned three additional corner kicks later in the half but were unable to capitalize. The first half concluded with the Marauders holding a 1–0 advantage.
East Stroudsburg came out aggressively to start the second half, recording three shots, including one on goal. Their momentum paid off in the 61st minute when they found the back of the net to even the score at 1–1.
Millersville pushed back seven minutes later, earning consecutive corner kicks. The second nearly resulted in a goal when Kehmar Green's shot was saved by the Warriors' goalkeeper.
In the 83rd minute, O'Neill struck again, this time assisted by Juan Ortiz Escobar, to put the Marauders ahead 2–1. East Stroudsburg took two more shots in the closing minutes, but both missed the mark, securing the victory for Millersville.
With the win, the Marauders closed the regular season with a 10–3–4 overall record and a 7–1–2 mark in conference play. Millersville will now turn its attention to the postseason, facing the winner of Seton Hill and Bloomsburg next Friday on the campus of Gannon University in Erie, Pennsylvania.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- O'Neill scored two goals
- Ortiz and Parkyn both credited with assists
- Massimi recorded his ninth win of the year
THOUGHTS FROM HEAD COACH STEVE WIDDOWSON
- How does it feel to finish the regular season with a hard-fought win at East Stroudsburg? "I think it was very positive to get the win today. Firstly, for maintaining our undefeated streak but more importantly it helps our NCAA ranking. While our performance was not up to our full capabilities, we continued to solve problems and find a way to win. Mentally this is great for us approaching the post season as this winning mentality could be what makes the difference in tight playoff games".
- With the semi-final match next Friday, how do you plan to make the most of this upcoming week to get the boys ready? "Our first priority is to recover from tonight and then get as many bodies as possible fit and healthy for the playoffs. We will take a few days to reset, then get to the serious work of prepping for what we hope will be another rewarding trip to Erie".