BLOOMSBURG, Pa. – The Bloomsburg men's soccer team could not come up with an answer against Millersville Saturday afternoon in a 1-0 defeat.

The Huskies and the Marauders were even throughout much of the afternoon, but Millersville was the more potent side in the second half, taking care of their chances in the attacking third.

Bloomsburg falls to 9-3-4 on the year with a 7-2-3 in conference play as the Marauders clinch the top seed in the PSAC East, moving to 11-2-3 with an 8-1-2 record against PSAC East opponents.

How It Happened: 
The first half was a stalemate between the two teams as both could not find the back of the net with limited chances. Despite the lack of goals in the first 45 minutes, both sides were able to generate opportunities in the opposing half.

Millersville had the first opportunity of the match with a blocked shot outside the box that resulted in no further pressure on the net. Bloomsburg had several opportunities with its throw-in tactics in the first half, and throughout the afternoon contest, but could not make any definitive attempts at the goal.

Anthony Schlee (Baltimore, Md./Archbishop Curley) had the first crack at goal for the Huskies, but similarly, the ball was guarded well by a Maruders' defender without further repercussions. Two minutes later, Millersville found itself in the best opportunity of the first half off a corner kick punched away by Brady Rimple (Cherryville, Pa./Northampton Area). The ball found its way to the feet of the Marauders before the attempt was skied above the crossbar. 

Bloomsburg had its best chance of the game with under nine minutes left in the opening half. Sam Blumberger (Colchester, Conn./Bacon Academy) led a series of tremendous build-up play through the middle as he sent Parker Nickelsen (Toms River, N.J./Toms River North) in through the heart of the Millersville defense. The forward could not square up the ball and only got a light touch to force a save. 

In the second half, Alex Wilsterman (Orefield, Pa./Parkland) and the Huskies had the first attempt at goal but the senior midfielder's attempt snuck just over the crossbar.

Millersville controlled much of the possession in the second half, and their play on the ball led to the only score of the match. The Marauders took advantage of a breakaway chance that Richy Valverde controlled the ball along the right wing before firing a cross into the box for a tap-in score for Michael Dempsey. 

Millersville had several more opportunities to double their lead, but a key stop by Rimple and two clearances off the line from Kody Besser (Lacey Township, N.J./Lacey Township) gave the Huskies a chance to come back. That effort was hampered as the Marauders stalled out the remaining minutes to seal the match.

The defeat on Saturday stopped a 10-match unbeaten streak for Bloomsburg.

On The Horizon:
The Huskies play their final game of the 2023 regular season on Friday, November 3, at 3:30 p.m. at Georgian Court.