Box Score  
BLOOMSBURG – The Bloomsburg University field hockey team put together a terrific all-around performance Wednesday afternoon as it triumphed over LIU Post, 4-1, in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division action at Sports Stadium.
 
The Huskies (10-3 overall, 4-1 PSAC East) were in need of a convincing victory on its home turf, and that's exactly what it got against the Pioneers (5-6, 2-3).  It made the most of its opportunities and played hard all the way down to the final buzzer.
 
Wednesday's matchup featured two of the top teams not only in the Eastern Division, but in Division II.  Bloomsburg entered the game ranked fifth in the latest Penn Monto / National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division II National Coaches Poll, as the Pioneers played as the eighth-rated team.
 
Bloomsburg had four different goal scorers in its tenth victory of the season.  Brooke Simonovich (East Stroudsburg/Stroudsburg) put the Huskies on the board with her team-leading 12th goal of the season and eighth in BU's last six games.  Also finding the back of the net for Bloomsburg was Brittany Mathews (Reedsville/Indian Valley), Alexis Weber (Bear, DE/William Penn), and Amber Aulenbach (Fleetwood/Oley Valley).
 
Junior goalkeeper Megan Eppley (Camp Hill/Camp Hill) played aggressive in the cage and neutralized nearly all of the Pioneer potential attacks.  She made nine saves, her most in the last five games, including two off LIU Post penalty strokes.  LIU Post came into the game averaging over three goals per game, and Eppley was able to frustrate the Pioneers with her fantastic play.
 
Simonovich gave the Huskies a 1-0 lead in the 17th minute.  On an odd-man advantage, fellow senior Jenna DiSabatino (Mountain Top/Crestwood) dribbled up the right side and sent a blistering cross through the box.  Simonovich handled the pass and shot the ball between LIU Post goalkeeper Becca May's legs to give Bloomsburg some early momentum.
 
Nearly ten minutes later, the Huskies were given an opportunity to build its lead, but would need some hustle and focus to follow through.  As a BU shot from outside the arc was expected to miss wide right, it hit the post and sat in front of the cage.  Mathews charged in a full sprint towards net and knocked it in to open the lead to 2-0 nearing halftime.
 
Mathews has now scored in three of her last six games and is fourth of the team in scoring with six.
 
Shortly after the Mathews goal, the Pioneers were awarded a penalty stroke in the 30th minute .  Last year's PSAC East Athlete of the Year Carlee Dragon stepped to the line hoping to bring the deficit to one, but was rejected by Eppley's right side blocker that appeared to give the Huskies an even greater mental advantage.
 
The Huskies kept their foot on the throttle coming out of halftime.  Less than three minutes into the second half, Alexis Weber (Bear, DE/William Penn) took control of the ball in front and sent a strike into the back of the net for her fifth goal of the season to give BU a 3-0 lead at the 47:34 mark.
 
Dragon notched her 13th goal of the season in the 60th minute to give the Pioneers some life.  She was assisted on a pass from Taylor-Bay Sutton which was deflected by Eppley, but found its way to Dragon who finished off the attack.
 
It was the only score of the day for the Pioneers as the Huskies defensive line of Meagen Hill (Gettysburg/Gettysburg), Jaclyn Beasley (Berlin, NJ/Eastern), and Gabriana Nisiotis amongst others stepped up to break up Post's passes in front.
 
Following a defensive save by Hill, a foul in the circle gave LIU Post its second penalty stroke of the day.  However, Eppley again stepped up and sent away Sutton's attempt.
 
The steady play in back resulted in a late rush for the Huskies.  With 20 seconds left in regulation, Aulenbach faked out the LIU Post goalie and ripped a shot into the left side of the net for her seventh goal of the season.
 
The shot totals were nearly identical as Bloomsburg held a 17-16 advantage over LIU Post.  After not having any penalty corners in the first half, Bloomsburg held six in the second half to help control the possession of the game.
 
Bloomsburg returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 6 for a road matchup with West Chester.  West Chester handed Bloomsburg its first loss of the season on Sept. 11 with a 2-1 decision.  Game time on Saturday is set for 1 p.m.