LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Bloomsburg men's soccer team rekindled some of its early-season late-game heroics to come away with a critical conference win against Lock Haven Wednesday night.

Trailing at the half, Braden Alicea (Huntingdon Valley, Pa./Lower Moreland) and Anthony Schlee (Baltimore, Md./Archbishop Curley) fired home the definitive goals for the Huskies in the effort, setting up a crucial clash in their final conference game of the season.

Bloomsburg improves to 9-2-4 on the season with a 7-1-3 record in conference play as Lock Haven is eliminated from PSAC Tournament contention at 6-7-3 and 3-5-2 in the PSAC East. The victory marks the first time Bloomsburg has beaten the Bald Eagles in Lock Haven since 2014.

How It Happened: 
The Huskies got the better of early chances in the match, but the Bald Eagles were more clinical and assertive in the early goings.

Bloomsburg had the first chances on the net in the match inside the nine-minute mark. The Huskies pushed the ball up through the center of the field,  where Zach Morales (Orefield, Pa./Parkland) fired a shot that Lock Haven goalkeeper Brady Freiwald parried and corralled to prevent any damage.

After the early chances, the Huskies could not maintain much-sustained possession of the ball. The Bald Eagles worked the ball through the midfield and along the flanks to keep consistent pressure on the Bloomsburg defense. The constant presence in the attacking third drew an ill-advised challenge from the Huskies, resulting in a penalty for the home side. 

Despite diving the right way, Brady Rimple (Cherryville, Pa./Northampton Area) could not keep out a well-struck penalty from Tom Pombor into the bottom right corner for a 1-0 Lock Haven lead.

The remainder of the half turned into a stalemate between the sides, with neither team having a definitive opportunity in the final 15 minutes. 

Bloomsburg's resolve paid dividends in the 54th minute. Building from the back, the Huskies launched a long pass from just inside the half-line to Alicea on the right wing. The defender cut inside to beat his man and fire home a low, curling shot off his right foot into the bottom left corner to equalize the game at 1-1. 

The two teams traded opportunities going forward to no avail in search of a breakthrough. Bloomsburg got its chance due to its heightened intensity in the second half.

Sam Blumberger (Colchester, Conn./Bacon Academy) made a run through the heart of the Bald Eagles' defense and was tackled from behind. Schlee stepped up for the prime scoring chance with momentum and the lead at stake. The junior sent the Lock Haven goalkeeper the wrong direction to give the Huskies their first lead of the night. 

Rimple stepped up in the 72nd minute of the match in a one-on-one scenario to put a stop to a dangerous attack from the Bald Eagles. Neither team was willing to give up an inch in the final moments, with Bloomsburg ultimately able to control possession in the latter stages of the match for the victory. 

With the win, the Huskies increased their unbeaten streak to 10 games, the longest such stretch for Bloomsburg dating back to 2002. 

On The Horizon:
The Huskies return to Steph Pettit Stadium for the final home game and PSAC game of the season in a matchup with Millersville at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 28.