Box Score
EAST STROUDSBURG—After several tense final minutes, the No. 14 Bloomsburg University lacrosse team narrowly edged the host Warriors of East Stroudsburg University, 9-8, to close out the Huskies' 2011 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) campaign.
With the win, Bloomsburg improved to 10-6 (7-4 PSAC) on the year and clinched one of six berths in next week's PSAC Championship Tournament. East Stroudsburg stands at 9-7 (6-5 PSAC) and will learn its fate after the final teams complete their conference schedule on Saturday, April 23.
Lyndsey Babilon (Boyertown/Boyertown) opened the scoring for the Huskies, putting the ball in the goal in the third minute off a pass from Sam Mazzie (Barto/Boyertown). Aubrey Bossert (Ambler/Wissahickon) contributed a goal less than two minutes later off a pass from Maggie Canavan (Erdenheim/Springfield).
Babilon made her second goal off a free-position shot less than ten minutes into the contest, and Mazzie scored a goal with an assist from Kelsey Metzler (Schwenksville/Perkiomen Valley), as the Huskies shot out to a 4-0 advantage.
ESU got on the board shortly before the halfway mark of the opening half, but Mazzie responded with her second goal on a free position shot.
Gabrielle Lochetto (Phoenixville/Owen J. Roberts) converted on a free-position shot to give Bloomsburg a 6-1 lead, and the Huskies seemed destined for an easy win.
East Stroudsburg responded forcefully, connecting on three goals in a three-minute span late in the first period.
After the break, the Warriors connected on their fourth consecutive goal, and the Bloomsburg lead had dwindled to 6-5.
Canavan took her turn in getting a free position shot past the goalie but ESU answered on a free position goal of its own.
Samantha King (Elkton, MD/North East) added to the scoring with just under 12 minutes remaining, as Mazzie tallied her second assist of the day. Once again, the Warriors countered with a free-position goal, and the score advanced to 8-7.
With under five minutes remaining, Tia Mazzie (Barto/Boyertown) connected on a free-position shot to bring the lead back to two, 9-7.
ESU slashed the lead to one on a goal with 2:19 to play. With under 90 seconds left, ESU had a final shot, but Sara Bates (Wading River, NY/Shoreham-Wading River) came up with a save to preserve the Huskies 9-8 win.
Bates totaled 11 saves in net for Bloomsburg, while Amanda Simms stopped nine shots on goal for ESU.
Bloomsburg will now play in the quarterfinal round of the 2011 PSAC Tournament on Tuesday, April 26. Final seeds and host sites are yet to be announced.
