BLOOMSBURG, Pa.- The Bloomsburg University women's soccer team defeated Mercyhurst 2-1 in thrilling fashion Friday afternoon (Sept. 22) at Steph Pettit Stadium.
Most of the first half was back and forth, before the Lakers opened the scoring in the 35
th minute. Claire Ritzmann sent Emilie Bock on a lead pass up the middle, with Bock corralling the ball in stride. One on one with Huskies keeper
Jenna Hawkins (Hamburg, Pa./Fleetwood), Bock buried her second of the year to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. The goal snapped Hawkins's scoreless minutes streak at 373:14.
The Huskies responded to trailing by ramping up the offensive pressure, finally breaking through when
Allie Barber (Pittston Township, Pa./Pittston Area) sent
Natalie Holmes (Laurel, Md./Archbishop Spalding) streaking down the near wing. Holmes crossed one into the box hoping for a deflection. Holmes got just what she wanted when
Sam Rodkey (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove) stashed home her third of the year at the back post to knot the match up in the 40
th minute. The teams went to the break tied.
The second half was scoreless but presented both teams with runs and chances. The Huskies played one last ball into the Lakers end, and it happened to find the foot of
Erin Bielski (York, Pa./Century (Md.)). In the dying seconds, Bielski squared up and ripped a shot destined for the top shelf. The shot hit its mark with one second left on the clock to give BU the win.
The Huskies outshot the Lakers 15-6 and 6-5 in shots on goal. Bloomsburg also held an 8-2 advantage in corner kicks. In addition to goals from Rodkey and Bielski, Holmes registered three shots in the contest. Barber,
Jessica Milligan (Perkasie, Pa./Pennridge),
Rachel Yenney (Collegeville, Pa./Perkiomen Valley),
Megan Callan (Eldersburg, Md./Century) and
Mackenzie Gebhardt (Pennsburg, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) all recorded two shots apiece. Hawkins made four saves in the victory.
Bloomsburg (6-1-1, 5-1-1 PSAC) will travel to battle the West Chester Golden Rams on Sunday (Sept. 24) with a 12:00 p.m. kickoff.
