Women's Soccer | 8/29/2018 2:19:00 PM

THE DETAILS
Bloomsburg (0-0-0, 0-0-0 PSAC) vs Mansfield (0-0-0, 0-0-0 PSAC)
Thursday, August 30, 2018 - 7:00 p.m.
Steph Pettit Stadium - Bloomsburg, Pa.
 
GAME COVERAGE
Live Stats - CLICK HERE
 
RELATED LINKS
Bloomsburg - Schedule | Roster | Statistics (2017)
Mansfield - Schedule | Roster | Statistics (2017)
 
STORYLINE
Bloomsburg jumps right into PSAC action for its season opener, and its home opener, against Mansfield University. The match is one of five conference contests on the docket for the opening day of action in the PSAC. In fact, all 17 conference schools will be competing for the first time in the 2018 season on Thursday.
 
ALL-TIME SERIES
The Huskies are 17-2-2 lifetime against the Mountaineers. Last season, Bloomsburg blanked Mansfield, 4-0, on the road. Jamie Marsico (Elizabethtown, Pa./Elizabethtown), Natalie Holmes (Laurel, Md./Archbishop Spalding), Maggie McDonald (Burke, Va./West Potomac), Sam Rodkey (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove) all scored for the Huskies while Jenna Hawkins (Fleetwood, Pa./Fleetwood) was credited with two saves to preserve the shutout.
 
PRESEASON POLL
Bloomsburg was picked to finish eighth in the PSAC preseason coaches' poll released earlier this month. The Huskies finished the 2017 season with a 9-6-3 overall record and an 8-5-3 mark in conference play, but ultimately fell, 1-0, at #21 West Chester in the PSAC quarterfinals. The Golden Rams topped the poll and are ranked eighth in the country coming into the campaign, while East Stroudsburg is ranked 14th in the national preseason poll and second in the conference. Kutztown took third in the conference poll, while Gannon was picked fourth. Slippery Rock was slated fifth, while IUP was tabbed sixth and Seton Hill seventh. After Bloomsburg in eighth, Edinboro and Mercyhurst concluded the top 10. Shippensburg was picked 11th, while Clarion was slated 12th and Millersville was picked 13th. Lock Haven, California (Pa.), Pitt-Johnstown, and Mansfield rounded out the poll.
 
SCOUTING BLOOMSBURG
Bloomsburg has reached the PSAC postseason in each of the first three seasons under head coach Matt Haney but will be looking to advance past the quarterfinal round for the first time since 2004. The Huskies return their lone All-Region selection in senior midfielder Allie Barber (Pittston Township, Pa./Pittston Area). The senior, who has earned All-Conference accolades in each of her first three seasons, tied for the team lead in scoring last season with four goals and five assists for 13 points. Barber has earned All-Region honors in each of the last two seasons. Barber joins junior defender Tayah Naudascher (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) as the returning All-PSAC players for the Huskies. Naudascher has been a Third Team All-PSAC selection in each of her first two seasons at Bloomsburg and was an NSCAA All-Region Third Team honoree as a freshman.

Sophomores Mackenzie Gebhardt (Pennsburg, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) and Maggie McDonald (Burke, Va./West Potomac) are also back after tying for the team lead in goals last season with five apiece. Fellow sophomores Lauren Hoelke (Blackwood, N.J./Highland Regional) (three goals, three assists) and Natalie Holmes (Laurel, Md./Archbishop Spalding) (one goal, seven assists) also return after sold rookie seasons. All told, the Huskies return 21 members from last year's squad and lost only two due to graduation - Hannah Miller (El Dorado Hills, Calif./Oak Ridge) and Rachel Yenney (Collegeville, Pa./Perkiomen Valley).

In goal, redshirt sophomore Jenna Hawkins (Fleetwood, Pa./Fleetwood) saw all but 71 minutes of action last season in her first year as the starter. She posted an 8-6-3 overall record with a 1.17 goals against average and a .724 save percentage. Hawkins was tied for second in the league with six shutouts and was eighth in the conference in goals against average.
 
SCOUTING MANSFIELD
Mansfield, after finishing 0-15-1 a year ago, was picked to finish last according to the preseason coaches poll but has reason for optimism under interim head coach John Shaffer as former All-PSAC goalkeeper Rachel Fox returns after a season-ending injury a year ago. The Mountaineers opened camp with a roster of 21 with 14 of those being returners. Seniors Fox, Bria Bittiger, and Abbey Korber highlight a group of 11 upperclassmen. Bittiger and Korber were among team leaders in several offensive categories. Alexis Bittel led Mansfield with two goals last year while tying with Bittiger for the team lead in points with four. Fox started two matches in goal last season and was 0-0-1 with a 0.56 goals against average and a .923 save percentage. She and Korber will serve as Mansfield's team captains for the 2018 campaign.
 
UP NEXT
The Huskies return home on Saturday, September 1, for another conference match against the Crimson Hawks of IUP. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. from Steph Pettit Stadium.

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