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Despite holding a huge statistical domination throughout the game, it took a Brittany Owens (pictured) goal with just 19.9 seconds remaining to lift IUP to a 1-0 win over Shippensburg and a berth in the PSAC championship game on Saturday at Miller Stadium.
IUP will be making its third appearance in the PSAC championship game and is seeking its first title. Bloomsburg is in the championship game for the seventh straight year, and the defending national champions have won 14 conference crowns. In their semifinal win over Shippensburg, the Crimson Hawks held a 35-4 advantage in shots and took 22 penalty corners to only three for the Raiders. But Shippensburg goalkeeper Amanda Houser kept her team in the game until the waning seconds with 19 saves. IUP was finally able to solve Houser when Owens took a feed from Wendy Strohl and scored her sixth goal of the season with overtime looming to send the Crimson Hawks to the PSAC final for the first time since 2004. Shippensburg had played in the past two championship games and won the league crown in 2005. Lydia Dolly made three saves for IUP in recording her 11th shutout of the season. IUP has won both games against Bloomsburg this season, defeating the Huskies 5-1 at home on September 11 behind a school record tying four goals by Liz Martini. On October 6 at Bloomsburg, the Crimson Hawks scored two goals in the final 7:17, including the game winner with 24 seconds left, in a 2-1 victory. Tickets for the PSAC championship game are $7 for adults and $2 for students. IUP students with a valid I-card will be admitted free.
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The
Crimson Hawks, ranked No. 1 in the National Field Hockey Coaches
Association poll, improved to 16-3 and will face Bloomsburg in the
conference title contest at 1 p.m. The Huskies (18-3) advanced with a
2-1 win over Kutztown in the first semifinal.