BOX SCORE

LOCK HAVEN—The Bloomsburg University men's soccer team (7-8-2, 4-4-1 PSAC) needed a penalty kick shootout to determine tonight's PSAC semifinal game against top seed Lock Haven (11-7-1) and it was the Huskies who came out on top 1-1 (7-6 PKs).  

With the win the Huskies will play the Marauders of Millersville in the PSAC championship game on Saturday, November 5.  Game time is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. at Chryst Field at Biemesderfer Stadium in Millersville, PA.  The Marauders punched their ticket into the championship game by topping no. 3 seed California (Pa.) 4-0. This will be the Huskies' third trip to the PSAC championship game in school history.  Bloomsburg's two appearances were in 1996 and 1977 where the Huskies lost both times to Lock Haven..

“Tonight's game was an old fashioned PSAC type of game that was played with a lot of intensity on both sides” said head coach Paul Payne.  “Our guys keep believing they can win and tonight we were very fortunate to walk away with one.”

The Huskies were outshot 18-6 in today's semifinal, limited to just four shots in regulation.  Nick Izzo (Frankford, DE/Indian River) stung the Bald Eagles as he buried a free kick into the far post from 30 yards out.   Izzo's goal came in the 24th minute of the first half. 

BU goalie Bernie Roell (Douglassville/Daniel Boone) was tested often in the first half, making four saves for the Huskies to keep the game at 1-0 entering halftime.  In the first half the Bald Eagles took nine shots to Bloomsburg's two.

Lock Haven would press hard in the second half, holding a shot advantage of 7-2.  Lock Haven's Greg Shertzer knotted things up at one a piece on a penalty kick in the 63rd minute.  Neither team scored for the remainder of regulation, forcing Bloomsburg's sixth overtime game this season.

In the two overtime periods, both teams recorded two shots with none of them finding the target.  As the second overtime period came to a close, a penalty kick shootout was needed to determine who would advance to the PSAC championship game. 

The first four players converted on their penalty kicks in routine fashion, making it 2-2 before a pair of misses from Lock Haven's Greg Shertzer and Bloomsburg's Nick Izzo (Frankford, DE/Indian River).  The following eight players buried their penalty kicks to make it 6-6 entering the eighth round of PKs.

Greg Bretz of Lock Haven missed the next attempt but was bailed out as Wes Kammerer (Ramsey, NJ/Ramsey)'s game winner came up short as well.  At 6-6 in the ninth round Matthew Coleman was denied as BU keeper Bernie Roell (Douglassville/Daniel Boone) came up with a huge stop to give the Huskies another shot for the win. 

Anthony Manero (Richboro/Council Rock North) was up next for the Huskies with a chance to put his team into the PSAC championship game for the third time in school history.  With the game on the line Manero came through with the score propelling the Huskies into the championship game.  Manero is a familiar foe for the Bald Eagles, scoring a goal in their first meeting and now bouncing them from the playoffs.  

“The guys are just elated and I'm excited for them” raved Payne.  “On Saturday we needed everything to fall in place and it did and tonight's game wasn't the prettiest but we found a way to win.  This team just keeps believing they can do it.”