 
 
 |
For the second consecutive year and third time overall, IUP saw its field hockey season end at the hands of Bloomsburg in the NCAA Division II national semifinals. The Crimson Hawks fell behind 4-0 early in the second half before seeing their late rally fall just short in a 4-3 loss to the Huskies on Friday afternoon on the campus of tournament host UMass-Lowell. IUP finished its season with a record of 17-4 including its first ever PSAC field hockey championship. Bloomsburg (20-4) will play either UMass-Lowell or Bentley in Sunday’s national championship game. The Huskies will be seeking their 11th title. IUP was attempting to become the first team to ever defeat Bloomsburg four times in one year. The Crimson Hawks swept the regular season series and then took a 4-3 overtime decision in the PSAC championship game October 27 at Miller Stadium to earn the No. 1 seed in the South Region and a first round bye in the NCAA tournament. Bloomsburg had advanced to the Final Four with a 2-0 win over Kutztown at home last Saturday. The Crimson Hawks trailed 1-0 at halftime on a goal by Jamie Vanartsdalen and then saw Bloomsburg score three times in the opening 13:02 of the second half to build its four-goal cushion. Ashley Heckard, Samantha Kropa and Liz Macready scored the three second half goals for the Huskies. Liz Martini scored the first of her two goals with 13:44 remaining in the game on a penalty stroke to start the IUP comeback. Sylvia Guerrieri fired in a rebound 7:21 later to pull the Crimson Hawks to within 4-2. IUP was awarded a penalty corner with no time left on the clock, and Martini converted for her second goal of the day and team-leading 18th of the season to make it a final margin of one goal. Martini started all 86 games in her career at IUP and finished with totals of 43 goals, 27 assists and 113 points. Bloomsburg held a 17-9 advantage in shots, with IUP goalkeeper Lydia Dolly making eight saves and Carrie Stork and Kellen Yoder making defensive saves. Allison Ziants stopped four shots for the Huskies. Bloomsburg also had a 10-5 edge in penalty corners.
|
