WEST CHESTER, Pa. - The Bloomsburg women's soccer team could not find the back of the net in a 3-0 defeat on the road at West Chester Saturday afternoon.

The Golden Rams showed up as the better side going by game's end, recording more shots than the Huskies in both halves and having a double-digit edge in the category by the final whistle. 

The Huskies fall to 6-3 overall and now possess a 4-3 record in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division. The Golden Rams improve to 5-3 and match Bloomsburg with a 4-3 conference record.

How It Happened:
Marlee Potillo (Ossining, N.Y./Ossining) looked to spark the attacking play in the early moments of the competition, supplying the Huskies with several shots to keep West Chester honest. Samantha Merklin (Effort, Pa./Pleasant Valley) did her part in the early going for Bloomsburg, getting active inside the first 15 minutes of action. 

As the tempo slowed, the Golden Rams found the opening goal a tick over 23 minutes played. The Huskies were on the wrong side of fortune as an inswinging corner slipped through the hands of Merklin and found the head of Carley Slaving to make it 1-0.

Bloomsburg remained aggressive in its search for an equalizer, with Alena Totten (Neptune, N.J./Neptune) putting the next chance on net for the Huskies with under 15 minutes remaining in the opening half. Bloomsburg's efforts in the final third stalled in the last moments of the first half, with the hosts taking the one-goal lead into the break.

West Chester kept its foot on the gas to begin the second half, recording a smattering of shots before drawing a penalty in the 56th minute. The Golden Rams were on a breakaway into the final third when a late challenge was eventually whistled on Erin Ranegan (Wilmington, Del./Conrad School of Science). Faith Matter stepped up to the spot for West Chester and converted to double the advantage. 

Aubrey Hondros (Richboro, Pa./Council Rock South) was the next player for the Huskies to drive forward with an attempt at net, but her attempts did not create enough danger for Bloomsburg. Totten returned in the second half to steer another chance on net but similarly could not generate enough to challenge West Chester goalkeeper Grace Keen. 

Merklin would make another big stop inside the 80th minute from a point-blank opportunity from the corner. Matter returned to the scoresheet for West Chester with her second and the Golden Rams' third and final goal of the afternoon. Merklin made one more save before the final whistle as West Chester successfully defended its home field.

On the Horizon: 
The Huskies return to home turf on Wednesday, October 9, at 1:00 p.m. for a midweek PSAC matchup against Shippensburg.