Women's Soccer | 11/19/2021 1:50:00 PM

BLOOMSBURG, Pa. – The Bloomsburg University women's soccer team's postseason run continues as the Huskies take on the No. 2 seed in the Atlantic Region and hosts, Concord University, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday afternoon.
 
Game Information
Saturday, November 20 • 3:00 pm
Paul Kline Memorial Sports Complex • Beckley, W. Va.
  
NCAA Tournament Central

Admission
$10 for adults
$5 for student age
Kids under 5 – free
$25 All Session Pass
 
Game Coverage
Live Video 
Live Stats
 
The Game
Bloomsburg continues its defense of its Atlantic Region Title as the Huskies defeated Gannon, 2-1, in overtime in the first round of the NCAA tournament. The Huskies come into Saturday's game with a 16-4-2 overall record and are on a five-game winning streak.
 
After going down 1-0 early in their opening round game against Gannon, the Huskies earned a penalty kick late in the first half and turned to graduate student Natalie Holmes (Laurel, Md./Archbishop Spalding) to take the PK. Holmes come into the game 3-for-3 on PKs and pushed that perfect streak to 4-for-4 with her team-leading sixth goal of the year to tie the game 1-1. After 45 minutes of scoreless soccer in the second half, the Golden Knights and Huskies headed into overtime. With less than four minutes to play in the first extra period, the Huskies controlled the ball in their offensive half. Senior Paige Harris (Danville, Pa./Danville Area) won a 50/50 ball off of the Gannon defender by the goal line and sent a cross into the box for junior Abby Groff (Sellersville, Pa./Pennridge) who was waiting in the center of the net. The cross by Harris drew the goalie off of her line and Groff had an open net to score her third game-winning goal in the last four games and send the Huskies into the next round of the tournament.  
 
Concord defeated Mercyhurst in the Mountain Lions opening round game 3-1 Thursday evening to earn its spot in the next round. Concord scored first in the 21^st minute before the Lakers tied the match late in the first half. The Mountain Lions responded with a 62^nd minute goal by Michelle Brogden and a 75^th minute tally to seal the win by Zoe Belding. The Mountain Lions improved to 18-0-3 for the season.
 
The Series
These two teams have met just one time before as the Huskies and Mountain Lions squared off September 7, 2008. The Huskies came away with a 4-1 win over Concord in Bloomsburg, Pa.
 
Scouting the Huskies
The Huskies are one of the top defensive teams in the country as they are fifth-ranked team in NCAA DII with a .40 goals against average and have 14 shutouts this season. They are holding teams to just 116 shots this season, including just 52 shots on goal. The defense has allowed just 43 corner kicks as well this season.
 
Graduate student defender Natalie Holmes (Laurel, Md./Archbishop Spalding) leads the team with six goals this season and seven assists for a team-best 19 points. Holmes was named the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East Defensive Player of the Year as the anchor of the Bloomsburg defense. She is also 4-for-4 in penalty kick attempts.
 
Junior Abby Groff (Sellersville, Pa./Pennridge) and sophomore Lauren Bull (Bloomsburg, Pa./Central Columbia) are tied with three game-winning goals each. Groff's three game winners have all come in the postseason with two in the PSAC tournament and one so fa in the NCAA tournament. Groff is second on the team with five goals and three assists this season. Senior Paige Harris (Danville, Pa./Danville Area) has four goals and four assists so far this year as well. Senior Helen Flynn (Allentown, Pa./Parkland) and sophomore Brooke Foster (Cherry Hill, N.J./Camden Catholic) each have four goals as well.
 
Sophomore Alexa Ryan (Macungie, Pa./Emmaus) has played in every minute for the Huskies this season in goal. She has a 0.40 goals against average and has a program-best 14 shut outs this season. She has a 0.842 save percentage with 42 saves on 51 shots faced.
 
Scouting the Mountain Lions
The Mountain Lions come into Saturday's game with an undefeated record as they are 18-0-3 on the year. Concord has the third-best offense in the nation as they are tied for third in NCAA DII averaging 3.43 goals per game. They have a stingy defense as well as Concord is ninth in DII with a 0.47 GAA.
 
Fifth-year senior Yasmin Mosby is second in DII with 22 goals this season and is averaging 1.05 goals per game. She leads the team with 47 points and eight eight game-winning goals. Courtney Smith is second in DII with 16 assists so far this year as well. Leah Foster is second on the team with 12 goals and 11 assists for Concord and has five game-winners to her credit while Michelle Brogden is fourth on the team with six goals and eight assists for 20 points.
 
Leah Marsh is the everyday starter for Concord in goal as she has started all 21 games for the Mountain Lions. She has 0.47 goals against average and a 0.851 save percentage. She has racked up 57 saves this year on 67 shots faced. She has 12.5 shut outs to her credit this season while the Mountain Lions have 14 total shut outs.

Up Next
The winner of the second-round game will advance to the round of 16 beginning on December 3. The second-round winner between Concord and Bloomsburg await the second-round winner in the Kutztown half of the bracket.