Box Score (HTML)

BLOOMSBURG – Playing with a national ranking for the first time since 2002, the Bloomsburg University men's soccer team looked every bit the part in a convincing 2-0 blanking of visiting Millersville on Wednesday evening at Steph Pettit Stadium.

With the victory, the Huskies clinched a spot in the upcoming Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Tournament.
 
The win marks the third straight shutout victory for the Huskies who improve to 9-4-2 overall and 7-2-0 in PSAC action. Wednesday's win assures the Huskies of at least holding in a tie for first place in the PSAC with No. 11 Mercyhurst who was scheduled to play at California (PA) later in the evening.
 
The Huskies controlled from the outset, outshooting Millersville (4-10-1, 3-5-0) by an 8-3 margin during the first half.
 
Bloomsburg nearly got the scoring started in the 13th minute. Brett Milden (Mullica Hill, NJ/Clearview Regional)'s corner kick went directly in front to Roma Loboda (Waverly/Abington Heights) who headed a ball into the chest of the running Millersville keeper who made the save to keep things scoreless. Another corner Milden 20 seconds later again went to Loboda who this time headed a ball above the net.
 
Things remained in a scoreless tie until the final two minutes of the period, when the Huskies finally broke through. Following a Huskies corner, James Kiama (Shippensburg/Shippensburg) picked up the ball on the far wing and sidestepped a defender with a cross to Josh Smith (Mechanicsburg/Mechanicsburg) who flicked in a header from 10 yards out for his second goal of the season and a 1-0 lead.
 
Anthony Cerda (Budd Lake, NJ/Mount Olive) gave the Huskies the insurance they were searching for in the 60th minute. Nate Conrad (Enola/East Pennsboro) started the play by taking control at midfield and kicking through traffic with a long service to Cerda who gathered the pass with one man to beat on a breakaway, rocketing a shot from the center of the box to the lower right of the net for his fifth score of the year.
 
That was more than enough for the Huskies defense which entered the day with the fewest goals allowed in the PSAC this season and continued their stellar play.
 
Millersville had two strong chances – first in the 26th minute when goalkeeper Jared Ott (Philadelphia/Archbishop Ryan) turned away a header through traffic in front by Anthony Fratini. In the 66th minute, Austin Swoyer fired on the net, but Ott made a diving save with full extension to end the threat.
 
Ott posted his seventh shutout of the year with four saves.
 
Next up for Bloomsburg is a trip to Shippensburg on Saturday.
 
GAME NOTES: Wednesday was the sixth annual Red Card Cancer game. For more information on how to support the cause, visit redcardcancer.org … The Huskies honored their two seniors, Nate Conrad (Enola/East Pennsboro) and Roma Loboda (Waverly/Abington Heights) prior to the match … Cerda is now tied for the team lead in goals with Spencer Conrad (Enola/East Pennsboro) … Bloomsburg was ranked sixth in the first NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional rankings which were released Wednesday afternoon. The NCAA rankings at the conclusion of the regular season determine the NCAA Tournament field next month.