ALBANY, N.Y. – Sophomore Nicole Varano (Mt. Carmel, Pa./Mt. Carmel) scored with just under six minutes left in regulation to lift the Bloomsburg University women's soccer team to its second consecutive NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional Championship with a 2-1 victory over the Golden Rams of West Chester University at the Afrim's Sports Park in suburban Albany on Friday morning. With the victory, the Huskies advance to the Elite Eight against the East Region champion on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m.
 
Bloomsburg improved to 18-2-1 overall and tied the program record for most victories in a season which was originally established in 1996 when the Huskies went 18-3-1 under Hall of Fame coach Chuck Laudermilch.
 
West Chester, meanwhile, saw its season come to an end with a 14-6-2 overall record. The Huskies and Golden Rams met four times during the season with Bloomsburg going 2-1-1.
 
Off of a West Chester goal kick, sophomore Paige Harris (Danville, Pa./Danville Area) intercepted and played a header back into the offensive zone where Varano picked up the loose ball and got behind the Golden Rams' defense. Varano's first shot was initially stopped by West Chester goalkeeper Hayley McGee. However, McGee couldn't control the rebound and Varano regained possession and fired a shot into essentially an empty net with 5:57 left in regulation. It was Varano's tenth goal of the season – sixth game winner - and proved to be the biggest goal of her young career.
 
The goal also gave the Huskies two double-digit goal scorers this season as Varano joined junior Lauren Hoelke (Blackwood, N.J./Highland Regional) who has 12 tallies on the campaign.
 
The Golden Rams put on the pressure over the last six minutes but the Huskies' defense was able to hold off a frenetic rally attempt and claim the program's second straight regional title.
 
Both teams had golden opportunities in the opening first half and the Golden Rams were able to capitalize first when Jenna Peters drilled a shot past redshirt junior goalkeeper Jenna Hawkins (Fleetwood, Pa./Fleetwood) off of a throw in with 10:35 left to give West Chester a 1-0 advantage. Hannah Zach was credited with the assist.
 
But, just 90 seconds later, redshirt senior Bryce Watts (Etters, Pa./Red Land) squared the match at 1-1 with her second goal of the season when she got a header to trickle past McGee. The play started on a throw-in that was played by junior Maggie McDonald (Alexandria, Va./West Potomac) and right to Watts who provided the equalizer.
 
Watts, playing in her final collegiate season, has recovered from three major knee surgeries during her career to provide the Huskies with a tremendous spark given her amazing comeback. It was her second career goal in a Bloomsburg uniform and the third marker of her collegiate career after notching a goal in her first game at Ohio State during her sophomore season.
 
Hawkins improved to 18-2-1 on the season as she was credited with five saves. She turned aside three shots in the opening half which included a tremendous diving stop off the foot of West Chester's Madison Baxter in the 20th minute. Meanwhile, McGee stopped just one shot in the match – the initial shot attempt by Varano before the sophomore buried the game-winner. She dropped to 5-5-0 in her freshman season.
 
West Chester held a 14-11 advantage in shot attempts and a 6-3 margin in shots on goal. The Golden Rams also had four corner kick opportunities to Bloomsburg's one.
 
Due to heavy snow that fell in the area earlier in the week, the match was played inside a dome at the Afrim's Sports Complex in Colonie, New York. More than likely, Sunday's match will also be held indoors as the Huskies will play the winner of the East Region between St. Rose and Molloy. Kickoff on Sunday is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. with the winner of that contest moving on to the Final Four at Highmark Stadium in Pittsburgh from December 12-14.