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BLOOMSBURG, Pa. - Sophomore Lauren Hoelke (Blackwood, N.J./Highland Regional) scored with less than 15 minutes left in regulation to lift the Bloomsburg University women's soccer team to the 2018 NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional Championship with its 2-1 victory over West Virginia Wesleyan in the regional final on a blustery Friday evening at Steph Pettit Stadium. The Huskies advance to the Elite Eight as they improved to 17-2-3 overall while the Bobcats ended their season with a 13-2-6 overall record.

Bloomsburg extended its unbeaten streak to 16 consecutive matches (13-0-3) and snapped West Virginia Wesleyan's 19-match unbeaten streak in the process.

Freshman Nicole Varano (Paxinos, Pa./Mt. Carmel) sent a pass into the box from roughly 20 yards out and Hoelke was able to out-run a West Virginia Wesleyan defender to get a shot off that beat backup goalkeeper Ashley Schumacher with 14:37 left in regulation to snap a 1-1 tie. It was Hoelke's third goal of the season and her first game-winning goal of the campaign. She also took over the scoring lead on the team with three goals and 11 assists for 17 assists. Varano, meanwhile, earned her fifth assist of the year which moved her into second on the team in that category.

The Huskies' stifling defense did the rest as West Virginia Wesleyan could not generate much in the way of offense in the second half. The Bobcats did have one corner kick opportunity with just over six minutes remaining but redshirt sophomore Jenna Hawkins (Fleetwood, Pa./Fleetwood) was able to make a stop on Chrystal Posada to keep the lead intact. It was Hawkins' only save of the contest.

The teams played to a 1-1 stalemate in the opening 45 minutes despite the Huskies outshooting the Bobcats, 9-4. Senior Taylor Sneidman (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) got Bloomsburg on the board with her fifth goal of the year in the 20th minute as she sent a shot from roughly 20 yards out over the head of Bobcats' starting netminder, Chelsea Hubner. Junior Jessica Milligan (Perkasie, Pa./Pennridge) collected the assist on the goal - her first of the year. West Virginia Wesleyan, however, answered in the 32nd minute when Haelly Ramirez headed a centering pass from Natalie Prater past Hawkins for her fourth goal of the year.

Bloomsburg had a chance to take the lead right before halftime but Hubner made a diving stop on senior Allie Barber (Pittston Township, Pa./Pittston Area) to keep the game knotted at 1-1 as the teams headed to their respective locker rooms. Barber was robbed again early in the second half when Schumacher jumped and was able to deflect a shot, destined for the top shelf, just over the crossbar.

The Huskies held possession for much of the night and outshot West Virginia Wesleyan, 19-6, over the match's entirety. Bloomsburg also held a significant 8-1 edge in corner kick opportunities. Hawkins improved to 16-2-3 on the season and was credited with the lone save late in the second half. Meanwhile, Schumacher was saddled with the loss after allowing the game-winning goal to Hoelke in the second half. She and Hubner combined to make eight saves on the night.

Bloomsburg advances to the NCAA Quarterfinals for the first time since 2000 and just the third time in program history (1996, 2000). The Huskies will meet the East Region champions - the University of Bridgeport - on Sunday, November 18, at Steph Pettit Stadium for a chance to advance to the Final Four at Highmark Stadium in Pittsburgh. Bridgeport won the East Region title with a 1-0 victory over LIU Post on Friday afternoon prior to the Atlantic Regional final. Start time of Sunday's match is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.

The two teams have met only one time on the pitch in the all-time series with the Purple Knights earning a 1-0 victory at Bloomsburg on September 20, 2011.

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