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Huskies Win PSAC Women's Soccer Championship on Penalty Kicks

2002 PSAC Champions

BLOOMSBURG—Bloomsburg University goalie Heather Hartman (Pleasanton, CA/Amador Valley) stopped three consecutive Millersville shots during penalty kicks to lift the Huskies women's soccer team to the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference women's soccer championship. The game ended in a 1-1, double overtime tie forcing penalty kicks to determine a winner where Bloomsburg won 3-1. Hartman was also named the game's Most Valuable Player for her efforts.

It was the third PSAC title for the Huskies with the others coming in 1996 and 1998. Bloomsburg had lost in the final each of the last two years in four overtimes to Lock Haven.

The Huskies opened the scoring in the game when freshman Becky Ritter (Philipsburg/Philipsburg-Osceola) scored off a Jen Fico (Monroe, CT/Masuk) assist 17:23 into the game. Both defenses played well and kept play in the middle of the field.

As the game moved into the second half, Bloomsburg had several good scoring chances, including a shot by Renee Williams (Larksville/Wyo, Valley West) that hit the cross bar with 38 minutes to play in the game. The Huskies controlled play for much of the second half and before the Marauders turned field position into their favor.

Then with time beginning to be a factor, Millersville forced the ball deep into Bloomsburg territory where Vanessa Robtison scored off a Mary Dietrich and Stacy Brubaker assist. After the ball was played into the box, Bloomsburg goalie Heather Hartman got fell to the ground allowing Robtison to score the game-tying goal.

In the two overtime sessions, both teams had scoring opportunities with Hartman and the Marauders' Carolyn Matisick each making big saves.

With the game to be decided on penalty kicks, Millersville went first with Marisa Ranieri, who beat Hartman to the left corner. The Huskies' Amanda McLaughlin (Andover, NJ/North Warren) then went left as well to tie at 1-1. After Millersville's Jen Yoder was blocked by Hartman, Fico found the back of the net to put Bloomsburg up 2-1. The Marauders' Mary Dietrich hit the cross bar, the Huskies' Renee Williams was good to the upper right for a 3-1 lead. The final shot of penalty kicks came from Kristin Breithaupt for Millersville who was stopped by Hartman setting off a celebration for the Huskies.

The Huskies go to 13-5-2 for the year, while Millersville is now 12-5-3. Both teams will await word on possible bids to the NCAA championships, which will be announced on Monday.