STORYLINE
The Bloomsburg University field hockey team looks for its third consecutive victory on Saturday evening when it heads to Shippensburg in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) opener for both teams. The Huskies are 2-4 overall while the Raiders, ranked sixth in the country according to the latest Penn Monto/National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) poll, are 3-3.
ALL-TIME SERIES
Bloomsburg leads the all-time series against Shippensburg, 45-23-1. However, the Raiders have won 11 of the last 12 meetings between the two schools including a 2-1 overtime victory over the Huskies in last season's PSAC Quarterfinals at the Robb Sports Complex. Bloomsburg dominated the opening half but only had a goal from
Ali McKay (Dover, Del./Polytech) to show for it. Shippensburg tied the game with 23 minutes left on a goal from Jasmin Petrantonio and then Rosalia Cappadora scored the overtime winner with 1:36 left in the first extra session.
SCOUTING BLOOMSBURG
After dropping its opening four games of the season, Bloomsburg rattled off back-to-back home victories over Seton Hill and Frostburg State last Saturday and Sunday, respectively, to improve to 2-4 on the season. The Huskies had scored only two goals in their first four games before getting eight to find the back of the next over the weekend. Sophomore
Foto Tsioles (Kingston, Pa./Wyoming Valley West) recorded the first multiple-goal game of her career with a pair of markers in the 5-0 win over Seton Hill. Junior
Cheyenne Ott (Mount Bethel, Pa./Bangor), junior
Emily Alker (Cresco, Pa./Pocono Mountain East), and sophomore
Madilyn McKay (Dover, Del./Polytech) also scored. Then, on Sunday, Ott, McKay, and senior
Willow Perkins (Bloomsburg, Pa./Central Columbia) each scored as the Huskies beat Frostburg State, 3-0. Tsioles leads the team in scoring with three goals and an assist for seven points. McKay and Ott each have two goals for four points and are tied for second on the team in scoring. Both of Ott's goals last weekend were the game-winners which puts her in a tie for third in the PSAC in that category. In goal, freshman
Abby Shaffer (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) has started each of the last five games. She is 2-3 with a 2.16 goals against average and a .722 save percentage. She is third in the league in saves per game (5.20).
SCOUTING SHIPPENSBURG
The sixth-ranked Raiders are 3-3 overall and snapped a three-game losing skid on Friday, September 20, with an 8-0 home win over Mercyhurst. Jasmin Petrantonio scored six goals and added an assist in the victory. She, again, is off to a ridiculous start for Shippensburg as she leads the team with nine goals and three assists for 21 points in six games. She is tied for second in the PSAC in goals and is second in total points (21) but leads the conference in points per game (3.50). Jenna Sluymer is next on the team with four goals for eight points. The duo have combined for 13 of the team's 17 goals to date. In goal, Megan Lay has played every minute and is 3-3 with a 0.97 goals against average and an .812 save percentage. She is tied for third in the PSAC with two shutouts and fifth in the league in saves per game (4.33) while also ranking in the top ten in both goals against average and save percentage.
UP NEXT
Bloomsburg returns home on Wednesday, October 2, to host fifth-ranked Kutztown University at Steph Pettit Stadium on ROTC Day. Start time is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.
