EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. - The Bloomsburg women's soccer fought to a 0-0 draw on the road against East Stroudsburg Wednesday evening.

The Huskies and Warriors battled for the full 90 minutes, with both sides taking their chances throughout the contest. East Stroudsburg finished the match with a 14-7 shot advantage and a 5-3 difference in shots on goal. Bloomsburg held the edge in corner kicks, with an 11-2 advantage.

The Huskies sit at 7-4-1 on the season and move to 5-4-1 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division. East Stroudsburg is now 5-3-4 overall and is 3-3-4 in conference action.

How It Happened:
Bloomsburg got the early favor of offensive momentum through the first 20 minutes of play. The Huskies fielded their first two corners of the contest inside seven minutes. Anna Dalesandro (Robesonia, Pa./Conrad Weiser) took the second corner and delivered a ball at the front post that found the foot of Jess Wanzor (Jackson, N.J./Jackson Memorial), with the redshirt junior getting too much underneath the shot, as the first attempt on the day went high.

Aubrey Hondros (Richboro, Pa./Council Rock South) forced the first save of the day from Warriors' goalkeeper Emmy Clarkson in the 18th minute. Bloomsburg forced a change of possession in the midfield that allowed Hondros to work forward with the ball, aiming at the upper half of the net before being redirected by the fingertips of Clarkson. 

As time went on, East Stroudsburg asserted more of its direct style of play, launching long balls to put pressure on the Huskies' backline—Bloomsburg's reciprocal effort led to seven corners through the first 45 minutes.

The Warriors' presence in Bloomsburg's half of the field amplified in the second half, with East Stroudsburg generating a 10-2 advantage in shot creation. Samantha Merklin's (Effort, Pa./Pleasant Valley) presence in goal kept the match steady for the Huskies', with the junior posting four of her five saves in the contest in the second half. 

With the Warriors loading the box, the home side got its best opportunity of the contest in the 54th minute with a shot from Rebecca Kotula bouncing off the post and back into play. Merklin followed that attempt with a save to quell the advances for the moment.

Bloomsburg finished the contest well by fending off the advancing efforts from East Stroudsburg. The Huskies, with three saves from Merklin inside the final 16 minutes, held firm and fended off the Warriors for the draw.  

Numbers of Note: 
6 - Merklin continues her impressive season between the woodwork for Bloomsburg. The junior's and defense's efforts led to the sixth shutout of the season for the Huskies. 

9 - The nine-corner discrepancy favoring Bloomsburg is the third-largest margin in a game this season. The Huskies' margin was double digits in their last contest against East Stroudsburg (11-1) and a season-high 11 against West Virginia State (12-1).

On the Horizon: 
The Huskies return to Steph Pettit Stadium on Saturday, October 19, at 4:30 p.m. for a matchup against Millersville.