Box Score Bloomsburg, Pa. – The Millersville field hockey team returned to PSAC Tournament in grand fashion. In the Marauders' first conference playoff showing in 19 years, they defeated four-time defending champion Bloomsburg 2-0 on the road in Tuesday's quarterfinal game.

Millersville (13-6) scored two second half goals to secure the win against the Huskies and give the program its first PSAC Tournament win since 1989. Junior Brittany Troutman scored the game winner and Katelyn Zapp added one more on a late insurance goal. Sarah Bomberger assisted Troutman's game-winner on a penalty corner.  Goalie Lauren Sotzin recorded eight saves and stopped a key penalty stroke for her ninth shutout of the season, which ties a Millersville single season record.

“We have had these goals set since the preseason and this win feels awesome,” Sotzin said. “Once we scored the first goal I told my defense, 'nothing is going in and we are not letting them get back.'”

Bloomsburg (14-5) was denied a berth to the the PSAC title game for the first time in 10 years. The Huskies totaled 10 shots in the game and outshot the Marauders by five. Jenna DiSabatino took a team high five shots and goalkeeper Megan Eppley totaled one save in the game.

The first half started with a five minute feeling-out period in which neither team was able to penetrate deep into the other team's territory. The game's first corner did not come until Bloomsburg  forced one 10 minutes into the game. The first shot of the PSAC Quarterfinal came in the 13th minute when the Huskies' Felicia Domenici took aim at the Marauder cage, but Sotzin stopped the shot to record her first career postseason save.

“The game plan was to not let them get on the board in the first 15 minutes,” said Coach Shelly Behrens. “We knew that if we stepped up, played strong and kept some of their dangerous players in our defensive third we would have a good chance at winning.”

At the 19 minute mark, Millersville was able to give Bloomsburg a scare. Brittany Anderson played a penalty corner into Rachel Dickinson at the top of the circle. Dickinson faked a pass to her left and took a touch to the right. With a wide open shooting lane Dickinson took a shot at the goal. Her aim was just off as her strike went wide right.

With both teams having equal possession throughout the rest of the half Millersville was able to create their fourth penalty corner of the half with only 1:30 remaining in the first frame. Bomberger played the corner into Dickinson, but an unfortunate Marauder bounce let the pass slip by Dickinson's stick and the half ended in a 0-0 tie.

At the break Millersville held a 4-2 advantage in penalty corners and the teams were deadlocked at two shots each. Sotzin notched three saves in goal for the Marauders.

Bloomsburg had a scoring opportunity early in the second half. Jenna DiSabatino lofted a shot from the left side of the circle. Sotzin eyed the ball the whole way and reached up to make the save.

The Marauders finally broke through on the first penalty corner of the second half. Sarah Bomberger played the corner into Brittany Troutman with just under 27 minutes remaining. Troutman slid to her right and cranked a shot toward the goal frame. Troutman's aim was accurate and her shot knocked off the right side of the cage and into the back of the net giving Millersville the 1-0 lead with 26:39 left in the game. Troutman's tally was her first of the season.

After putting the first tally on the scoreboard, the defense stepped up next. Bloomsburg had a stretch of five straight corners over the span of five minutes. Shot after shot, the Millersville defense was able to block, stop, and halt the Huskies' attack.

The Marauders showed no signs of being an inexperienced playoff team. They added a much needed insurance goal with just over 11 minutes left in play. Again off a corner, Bomberger played a pass into Ruane. Ruane's initial shot was saved by Eppley, but the rebound fell to Zapp's stick. With only a defender between her and the goal, Zapp easily placed her target into the cage. Zapp's goal was her fifth of the year.

Bloomsburg's best chance to erase the Millersville lead came with only 91 seconds remaining. DiSabatino had a breakaway opportunity with Dickinson trailing close behind. The two players got tangled up and a penalty stroke was awarded to the Huskies. Amber Aulenbach was selected to take the stroke. Sotzin read Aulenbach's shot perfectly and dove to her right to make the save. The ball bounced off the post and out of play as Sotzin preserved the shutout.

Millersville now travels to West Chester Friday for the PSAC Semifinals. There it will play No. 1-ranked Shippensburg at 3:30 p.m. The Marauders lost both meetings to the Red Raiders this season. Millersville comes in on a hot streak winning six of their last seven games, and eight of the previous 10.

“We know what is in front of us, we accept the challenge, and we are thrilled to keep playing. We are not just happy to be here, we are a team that wants to compete and we are going to take this as far as we can and be as competitive as possible.”

Ticket prices for the game are $7 for adults and $2 for students. PSAC students with an ID card get in for free.