SHEPHERDSTOWN, W. Va. - The Bloomsburg women's soccer team saw its season come to an end with a 2-0 defeat to Gannon in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday afternoon.

The Huskies (10-7-2) fought valiantly against the Golden Knights (16-2-2), seeking to catch the PSAC West representative out on the counter. The numerous opportunities Bloomsburg had in the first half came up empty, either coming up on the wrong side of an offside whistle or being unable to find that final touch necessary to reach the back of the net. 

Gannon scored its first goal with 15 minutes remaining in the first half, as a flood of bodies crashed the front post before a poke found the bottom corner. In the second half, Bloomsburg did enough to keep the Golden Knights from scoring in the open field, but would eventually surrender a second from a late-given penalty.

How It Happened:
The game started as a back-and-forth, with both teams hoping to find pockets of space in the attacking third. The Golden Knights sought to build up possession, dictating play through the opening five minutes. That stretch of play led to a corner kick for Gannon and the first shot of the game, a tailing shot out right.

The Huskies began to find something as they looked to attack the Golden Knights' defense over the top. Bloomsburg would do well to fend off Gannon. Leading to its opportunities. Alternating between offside calls was a quality run from Emma Wilkinson (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown West) along the left wing. Wilkinson had the first go at goal for the Huskies, a low, driven shot aimed for the bottom corner that was pushed too far inside and found the side netting instead. 

A flurry of chances for the Golden Knights mounted the pressure in Bloomsburg's defense half, eventually leading to the goal. A foul committed by the Huskies just outside the box gave Gannon a chance to line up along the goal line. The ensuing cross was whipped toward the front post, and with a mass of bodies distorting goalkeeper Samantha Merklin's (Effort, Pa./Pleasant Valley) line of sight, a light tap in provided the opening goal.

The Huskies would not back down from the moment, continuing to find ways to set themselves up for an equalizer. That result almost came to fruition with five minutes left to play in the first half. Anika Krasnai (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township) received a through ball from Cassi Snyder (Hegins, Pa./Tri-Valley) after a tremendous challenge to win possession. The pass forced Krasnai to drift wide to her right before taking a touch into a shot. The forward's attempt at goal would not go through, as her attempt went high and wide of the intended spot.

In the second half, the Golden Knights' control of the ball in the midfield allowed for the team's efforts to push for a second. Despite Gannon's desire to find the goal from open play, the team was denied by the hands of Merklin on several occasions. The game would take one final swing in favor of the Golden Knights with a whistle in the box on a contested ball situation that, while claimed by Merklin and seemingly out of the reach of any other player on the field, granted Gannon a kick from the penalty spot. Olivia Dixon would convert on the opportunity for the Golden Knights to double the advantage.

Bloomsburg made its attempt for a push in the final third and seemingly was one touch away from causing a problem in the box at every turn. The team managed to get deep into the attacking area, but Gannon fended off any last-ditch efforts until the final whistle blew.