BOX SCORE

SHIPPENSBURG—Amanda Riley (Tannersville/Pocono Mountain East) scored two goals and was named tournament MVP to lead the No. 1-ranked Bloomsburg University field hockey team to a 3-1 win over Shippensburg University in the 2011 PSAC (Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference) championship game.
 
The PSAC title was the fourth straight for the Huskies and the second for second year coach Nikki Rhoads. It was also the 18th PSAC field hockey title in school history.
 
Shippensburg (17-3) went on the offensive in the opening minutes of the game getting off two shots with Bloomsburg goalie Meghan Hollenbach (Blandon/Fleetwood) making two saves.
 
Bloomsburg (19-0) got off its first shot in the 13^th minute, but Jenna DiSabatino (Mountain Top/Crestwood)'s shot was blocked. Then five minutes later the Huskies were awarded their first penalty corner. On the play Jaclyn Beasley (Berlin, NJ/Eastern) fed Riley who beat Shippensburg goal Ciarra Delost putting the Huskies on top 1-0, 18:41 into the game.
 
Just over a minute later the Huskies added to their lead on the benefit of another penalty corner. This time Riley's shot was blocked by Delost, but Brittany Mathews (Reedsville/Indian Valley) was there to put in the rebound quickly making it a 2-0 game.
 
Shippensburg cut the lead in half before the half. Over a span of three minutes the Lady Raiders picked up four penalty corners finally converting the fourth opportunity into a score. On the play Ashley Taylor fed Taylor Jones for the goal with no time showing on the clock.
 
In the second half both teams had early scoring chances on penalty corners, but could not convert. Then in the 50^th minute Riley scored for the second time with Amber Aulenbach (Fleetwood/Oley Valley) getting the assist.
 
From that point on the Bloomsburg defense stepped to the forefront with Hollenbach making three saves to preserve the win.
 
“This was a total team effort,” said Rhoads. “Amanda (Riley) had a great game offensively, while Megan (Hollenbach) and Jackie (Beasley) were outstanding on the defensive side of the ball.”
 
“There were two great teams out there tonight in a real championship atmosphere,” Rhoads continued. “I told the team they couldn't be afraid to lose and to go out and play their game. Those two early goals really helped take the pressure off us.”
 
For the tournament Riley scored three times and had one assist in earning her second straight PSAC Championship MVP honor.

The Huskies will now await word on selection to the NCAA Division II championship field that will be announced later Monday night.