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ERIE, Pa. - Junior Willow Perkins (Bloomsburg, Pa./Central Columbia) scored in the 24th minute and the defense made the lead stand as the 10th-ranked Bloomsburg University field hockey team posted a 1-0 victory at Mercyhurst University on Saturday to keep the Huskies in the postseason picture. With the win, Bloomsburg improved to 9-5 overall and 3-4 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) standings while the Lakers dropped to 4-11 overall and 2-5 in league play. The Huskies remained one game behind both Millersville and Mansfield for the sixth, and final, playoff spot.

Bloomsburg improved to 23-0 lifetime against Mercyhurst in the all-time series.

Perkins took a pass from senior Tali Wehner (Bloomsburg, Pa./Bloomsburg) and beat Mercyhurst goalkeeper Libby Jones for her first goal of the season with 10:26 left in the opening half. It was Perkins' first goal since scoring at Mansfield on October 11, 2017.

The tally proved to be all that sophomore goalkeeper Dana Sheply (Maple Shade, N.J./Maple Shade) and the Bloomsburg defense would need although it did not come without a tense moment in the final minute of regulation. Freshman Callie Edwards (Swoyersville, Pa./Wyoming Valley West) recorded the first defensive save of her young collegiate career with 57 seconds left on a shot from Mercyhurst's Clare Ahern to keep the Lakers off the scoreboard. Earlier in the contest, senior Jackie Shragher (Holland, Pa./Council Rock South) also recorded a defensive save for the Huskies - her second of the season.

Sheply earned her third shutout of the season as she improved to 5-4 on the year. She recorded one save on the afternoon. Jones, meanwhile, suffered the loss and did not record a save.

Bloomsburg held a 10-8 advantage in shots over Mercyhurst but the team's only shot on goal proved to be the game-winning tally by Perkins. The Lakers had three of their shot attempts on net. The Huskies also had five penalty corner opportunities to Mercyhurst's four.

The Huskies will look to continue its charge towards a conference postseason berth when they host Millersville University at Steph Pettit Stadium on Wednesday, October 31. Start time is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. Last month, the Huskies defeated the Marauders, 3-2, in Millersville which snapped a ten-game losing streak against their rivals in the all-time series.

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