The Bloomsburg University field hockey team will begin its quest for its 16th Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championship on Friday at Shippensburg University.
The Huskies, 18-1 and the top seed from the PSAC East, will play Mercyhurst, 9-7, the number two seed from the PSAC West in one semi-final game starting at noon. In the other semi-final game Shippensburg, 18-1 and the number one seed from the PSAC West, will play East Stroudsburg, 14-6, the number two seed from the PSAC East at 2:30 p.m. The winners will meet on Saturday at 1 p.m. for the PSAC Championship.
Bloomsburg, the two-time defending PSAC champs, has once again put together a dominant season. The Huskies are averaging 4.84 goals per game, while allowing just 0.74 per game. Leading the way offensively for the Huskies is sophomore Amanda Riley (Tannersville/Pocono Mountain East) who has scored 22 goals (tied for second in Division II) and assisted on six others. Riley, winner of three straight PSAC East Player of the Week honors, has been a model of consistency scoring at least one point in all but four games this season. Behind Riley is senior Breanne Tobin (Perkasie/Pennridge) who has scored 16 goals and assisted on four others. Tobin was named PSAC East Player of the Week on Oct. 5 after scoring three goals the previous week.
In addition to Riley and Tobin, Maggey Bloskey (Danville/Danville), Erin Hench (Loysville/West Perry) and Chelsea Due (Pen Argyl/Pen Argyl) are also key contributors to the Huskies offense. Bloskey has scored 10 goals and has a team-high 10 assists, while Hench has nine goals and six assists with Due getting eight goals and four assists.
While the Huskies lead the nation in scoring average and scoring margin they have also limited opponents to just 14 goals this season. Senior goalkeeper Caitlin Koczynski (Yardley/Neshaminy) has compiled a .813 save percentage and a 0.83 goals-against average.
Bloomsburg’s semi-final opponent will be Mercyhurst. The Lakers, making their first postseason appearance as a member of the PSAC, feature the offensive talents of Emily Warren. The senior midfielder leads the team with 12 goals, including four game-winners, along with 28 total points. Mercyhurst lost to the Huskies this past Sunday by a score of 3-0 and are winless in 11 tries against Bloomsburg.
Shippensburg has won all 11 of its home games this season while ranking atop Division II with 11 shutouts through 19 total games. Leading the offense is sophomore Kristina Taylor, who tops the nation with 23 goals. Senior goalkeeper Amanda Houser leads Division II with a save percentage of .859 and a goals-against average of 0.72.
East Stroudsburg is making its first appearance in the PSAC field hockey playoffs in seven years and its 10th overall appearance in 26 years under veteran head coach Sandy Miller. Offensively, the team is led by juniors Caitlin Brownley (19 goals, eight assists) and Jess Frantz (14 goals, 10 assists). Both players rank among the nation’s top 10 in terms of points per game production.
Bloomsburg’s only loss was against Kutztown at home on Sept. 7, while Shippensburg’s only loss came from the Huskies by a 5-1 score on Sept. 29.
Tickets will be $7 for adults and $2 for students, while any student attending a PSAC member institution can receive free admission with proper identification.
Tom McGuire
Bloomsburg University
Director of Sports Information, Athletic Marketing and Promotions
