BLOOMSBURG, Pa. - The Bloomsburg men's soccer team nabbed a major nonconference win Saturday afternoon with a 1-0 decision over Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division foe Seton Hill.

The Huskies dictated much of the play throughout the match, with the team finding the breakthrough in the second half. After a scoreless first 45 minutes, Bloomsburg drew a free kick in the 49th minute. Freshman Adrian Rodriguez (Tarrytown, N.Y./Sleepy Hollow) stepped up for the set piece and delivered a lofting ball over the defense to connect with Kody Besser (Lacey Township, N.J./Lacey Township). The defender split two Griffin markers to put away the game-winning goal.

Bloomsburg improves to 8-2-1 overall, while Seton Hill drops to 7-2-2 on the season. 

How It Happened:
The Huskies set out to control the match from the opening whistle and did so in several meaningful ways despite being unable to find the back of the net. 

Bloomsburg had generated its first opportunity at goal with one of several threatening throw-in chances throughout Saturday's contest. Teagan Wallace (Lumberton, N.J./Rancocas Valley Regional) looked for a leaping Sam Blumberger (Colchester, Conn./Bacon Academy), with the forward watching the first shot of the afternoon sail over the crossbar. The Huskies rattled off two more shots inside the first 10 minutes of play to maintain the early pressure.

Seton Hill's first chance of the match was a good one, with the visitors finding space down the left wing. Brandon Knapp accelerated past the Bloomsburg defense to deliver a high-tempo ball in the center of the box to an unmarked James Aubrey. The Griffins' forward could not get his head squared on the ball in time as his attempt arced over the crossbar. In an exchange of build-up play, Seton Hill got off the match's next shot with just over five minutes remaining in the half as Nils Heinrich ripped a long-range attempt that sailed off target.

In a first half that felt at times like a chess match, the Huskies held advantages in shots (5-2) and corner kicks (2-0), with the Griffins' goalkeeper Aidan Hollander making the only save of the half. 

Bloomsburg's attacking efforts came to fruition to begin the second half, with Rodriguez and Besser connecting for the opening chance to put their side up 1-0. Zach Morales (Orefield, Pa./Parkland) nearly doubled the Huskies' advantage 41 seconds following the goal. Bloomsburg's pressure forced Seton Hill to turn the ball over on the right wing near midfield. An outlet pass played Owen Hollobaugh (State College, Pa./State College) into space, with the second-year forward able to cut inside the box and lay a pass across the goal to Morales. It proved a tad too strong, with Morales getting only the toe of his boot on the ball for a high-winding attempt.

The two teams traded shots as time went on in the second half, including a howling attempt from Rodriguez long outside the box that just went over the crossbar. The physicality of the match simultaneously increased, with both sides seeing multiple players receive yellow cards. 

The Griffins' final shot came inside 10 minutes to play, with Knapp looming over a set piece. The defender curled the ball to the back post to an unmarked Julian Marker from the scrum. Seton Hill's leading scorer was positioned too close to the endline and fired his attempt into the side netting. 

The Huskies rode their strong play and match momentum throughout the closing moments of the match, finding opportunities to make timely challenges to kill off the remaining seconds of the game.  

Numbers of Note:
15 - With his fourth shutout of the season, Brady Rimple (Cherryville, Pa./Northampton Area) is now tied for the second-most career shutouts with 15. 

5 - Besser's assertion into the set piece strategy has become a focal point for Bloomsburg. The junior finished Saturday with a match-leading five shots while being the only player in the game to have multiple attempts on goal.

On the Horizon: 
The Huskies are on the road for a midweek clash with East Stroudsburg on Wednesday, October 16, at 7:00 p.m.