Bloomsburg Athletics

LAKEWOOD, N.J. – Bloomsburg scored with 19 seconds remaining to cap a late comeback and defeat Georgian Court, 9-8, in non-conference women's lacrosse action on Monday afternoon.

Marykate Sitko (Pennsburg, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) delivered the decisive moment, finishing her fourth goal of the game in the final seconds to complete a three-goal fourth-quarter surge and lift the Huskies to their fifth win of the season.

Bloomsburg (5-9) set the tone early with a man-up goal from Reiley Knize (Harleysville, Pa./Souderton) just under a minute into play, but Georgian Court answered quickly behind Nena Menard to even the score. The Huskies regained the lead on a crisp finish from Samantha Keck (Denver, Pa./Cocalico) off a Brianna Austin (Plymouth Meeting, Pa./Plymouth Whitemarsh) assist, only to see the Lions capitalize on a player-up opportunity late in the first to send the game into the second quarter tied at 2-2.

Georgian Court (7-6) seized control in the second period with a four-goal run, turning a tie game into a 6-3 advantage. Menard sparked the surge, and the Lions continued to pressure in transition, converting off turnovers and free-position chances. Bloomsburg responded before halftime with a critical push, as Emily Simpson (North Wales, Pa./Lansdale Catholic) converted a woman-up opportunity and Molly Clifford (Springfield, Pa./Springfield) added a free-position goal in the final minute to trim the deficit to 6-5 at the break.

The Huskies carried that momentum into the third quarter when Sitko opened the scoring to tie the game at 6-6. 
Georgian Court countered with back-to-back goals from Caitlin Petrellese and Jill Konschak, reclaiming an 8-6 lead while its defense forced empty possessions and held Bloomsburg scoreless for the remainder of the period.

Trailing by two entering the fourth, Bloomsburg's defense tightened, anchored by goalkeeper Emily Graham (Wantagh, N.Y./St. Anthony's), who finished with nine saves and turned away multiple free-position attempts down the stretch. The Huskies began their comeback with Sitko's early goal, then leveled the score at 8-8 on a woman-up finish midway through the quarter as the defense continued to force turnovers and limit clean looks.

With the game tied in the final minute, Bloomsburg executed one last possession. After a clean clear, the ball found Sitko, who broke free and buried the go-ahead goal with 19 seconds remaining. The Huskies controlled the ensuing draw to seal the victory.

Sitko led all scorers with four goals, while Knize and Simpson each added a goal and an assist. Bloomsburg's defense forced 18 turnovers and held Georgian Court scoreless over the final 15 minutes, completing the late-game rally.

The Huskies controlled the draw holding a 12-7 advantage in the circle led by Knize with 10. Sitko and Simpson each grabbed one.

Defensively, Sikto and Simpson each had three caused turnovers while Simpson and Sophie Mellman (Middle Island, N.Y./Longwood) finished the day with three ground balls each.
 
Graham made nine saves and played the full 60 minutes for the win for the Huskies.

Bloomsburg returns to action on Saturday when the Huskies come home to host #11 West Chester for a 1:00 p.m. game at Steph Pettit Stadium.