Youth Leads Bloomsburg to NCAA Field Hockey National Championship Game

LOWELL, MA—The Bloomsburg University field hockey team advanced to the NCAA Division II national championship game with a 3-1 semifinal win over Indiana (PA). The game was played in blizzard-like conditions at UMass-Lowell.

The Huskies, 20-3, will face the winner of the Bentley/UMass-Lowell game on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.

The Huskies came out on fire in the early stages, pressuring Indiana (PA) goalkeeper Jamie Parell with the game's first four shots. The Huskies put the fourth shot in the back of the net as freshman Ashley Heckard (Millerstown/Greenwood) received a centering pass from Kristy Kropa (Tunkhannock/Lackawanna Trail) and knocked it home.

Indiana (PA) tried to even the score but was unsuccessful on two consecutive penalty corners as the Huskies' defense held. Bloomsburg kept the heat on the Indians offensively, peppering Parell with shots from the crease.

Jackie Loehwing Scored
the Huskies Second Goal

With a little under eight minutes remaining in the first half, Marie Zorzi (Mountaintop/Crestwood) took a shot on goal that was blocked by Parell. Senior Jackie Loehwing (York/Dallastown) then took the rebound and blasted one home from the right side of the crease giving the Huskies the 2-0 lead.

The Huskies continued to control the ball in the first half and added their third goal with 2:39 remaining as freshman Brittney Fox (Reading/Oley Valley) scored off a corner play assisted by Maribeth Brozena (Larksville/Wyoming Valley West).

“We played very well in the first half and I was pleased with our intensity considering the field conditions,” said Bloomsburg head coach Jan Hutchinson. “It's been years since we played in conditions like this and it was tough for us to get solid footing.”

In the second half, both teams threatened early as Indiana (PA) had three penalty corners that went scoreless. The Huskies also had three penalty corners in the half's first 10 minutes but could not score. Then with 3:10 remaining in the contest, Indiana (PA)'s Suzanne Cornelissen finally cracked the Bloomsburg defense, scoring unassisted on a breakaway from the left of the crease, but it was too little too late. Indiana (PA) could not muster another shot and the Huskies advanced with the 3-1 victory.

“I'm really pleased that we beat Indiana (PA) for the third straight time,” Hutchinson said. “They're a good team but we played very well. We are just anxious to play a new team in the finals.”

In goal, Tracey Hudak (Sweet Valley/Lake-Lehman) stopped five shots, picking up her 18th win of the season.

The Huskies will face the winner of the Bentley/UMASS-Lowell game on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. for the NCAA national title. The Huskies will be shooting for their third title in as many years and its seventh title in the last nine seasons. The Huskies are a combined 19-0 all-time versus Bentley and UMass-Lowell, winning 12 games over UMass-Lowell and seven from Bentley.