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BLOOMSBURG – A goal from sophomore Jenna Fisher (Selinsgrove/Selinsgrove) in the 26th minute allowed the Bloomsburg University women's soccer team to seize control and hold off a charge late from No. 17 Gannon, scoring a 1-0 victory Wednesday afternoon at Steph Pettit Stadium.
 
Bloomsburg's win marks the first for the Huskies over a nationally ranked opponent since a 2-0 triumph over then-No. 23 Kutztown on Nov. 12, 2010.
 
The win moves the Huskies to 1-2 overall as well as in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference while handing Gannon (2-1, 2-1), ranked No. 17 in the latest NCAA Division II National Soccer Coaches Association of America Top 25, its first loss of the season.
 

"Today was an important day for us," Huskies head coach Stephanie Anderson said. "We've been putting a lot of extra work into a new system of play and a new defensive scheme. Our players needed to see that success will come from putting the extra work in."
 
After suffering a pair of 1-0 heartbreakers to open the season, it was the Huskies putting up the shutout on Wednesday.
 
Bloomsburg had the first real opportunity of the match when Maureen Leis (Erdenheim/Springfield) worked herself free in front. Leis delivered a header from inside five yards that sailed over the crossbar.
 
That started a flurry for the Huskies attack. Bloomsburg generated three corner kicks in the span of two minutes, resulting in another header opportunity from Chrissy Hollan (Laurys Station/Parkland), however Gannon keeper Shannon Differ was there to make the save.
 
Fisher was denied by Differ in the 23rd minute, but would not be just over two minutes later. Ashley Sanchez (Lyndhurst/DePaul Catholic) delivered a service from the corner to Leis on the far left wing, allowing Leis to rush in from the top of the box. Differ had come out of the net to challenge the attack from Leis, allowing Fisher to clean up by poking Leis' shot over the line for the score.
 
Gannon had an opportunity in the 42nd minute when the net opened briefly following activity in front, but Mani Breuckner's shot was headed away by Huskies defender Taylor Gerstenfield (Warminster/William Tennent) to end the threat.
 
Breuckner, the two-time defending conference Athlete of the Year, continued to prove pesky in the second half. With just over 33 minutes to play, the junior had a great chance after working around a defender in front. However, the Huskies defense was able to deflect her effort enough to push her shot wide right and keep the score at 1-0.
 
Bloomsburg looked for some insurance in the 60th minute when Kate Rockhill (Lumberton, NJ/Rancocas Valley Regional) collected a cross from Brooke Mohney (Bigler/Clearfield) directly in front and shot right on, but Differ again was able to make the stop.
 
Gannon had multiple opportunities over the final 15 minutes, but the Huskies defense made the narrow advantage stick. In the 77th minute, Gannon's Kaitlyn Kissel took a pass from Breuckner in front, but missed high. Moments later, the Golden Knights had a chance off a corner kick but Huskies keeper Megan Deak (West Islip, NY/West Islip), as she had multiple times throughout the day, punched the ball away to end the threat.
 
Deak was outstanding in net while collecting her first career shutout in just her second appearance for the Huskies, making four saves and repeatedly thwarting Gannon attack efforts by swatting balls out of the air.
 
On the other end, Differ made six saves for the Golden Knights, who held an 11-8 edge in shots, though Bloomsburg posted six shots on goal to Gannon's four.
 
"I think a win like this can really give us the energy and the fire that we need going forward," Anderson said. "Now we know we can win against top-tier teams."
 
Bloomsburg will look to keep the momentum going Saturday afternoon with a trip to Mercyhurst as PSAC play continues.