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PSAC Tournament Preview

Sunday (1 p.m.): PSAC championship game - ESU vs. Millersville
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EAST STROUDSBURG - East Stroudsburg University scored two second-half goals to post a 3-1 win over West Chester and advance to Sunday's PSAC field hockey championship game in Friday's semifinal match-up at Whitenight Field.

ESU (16-3), the tournament's No. 1 seed, will host Millersville (18-1), the No. 2 seed, on Sunday at 1 p.m. The two schools split their meetings this season, with ESU winning 1-0 in a conference game at home on October 13, and Millersville winning 1-0 in a non-conference game on its home field on September 15.

The Warriors will play in the PSAC championship game for the third time and are seeking their first PSAC championship. They have been runner-up in 2001 and 2010.

Millersville, the defending DII champion, reached the final for the fourth straight year with a 1-0 win vs. Bloomsburg on a penalty stroke goal by Margaret Thorwart 56 seconds into the contest. The Marauders led DII in goals against average (0.38) entering the contest and held an 11-1 advantage in shots and 12-1 margin in penalty corners in Friday's first semifinal.

Senior midfielder Rebecca Snyder scored in the first half and freshman midfielder Paige Harrold and junior forward Marisa Miro (assisted by sophomore midfielder Sydney McCarthy) scored in the second half for the Warriors.

ESU posted its second win over West Chester (16-4) this season, beating the Golden Rams 4-0 at home on September 26 for its first victory vs. WCU since 1960.

Snyder scored an unassisted goal 13:33 into the game, before Alayna Brown scored on an assist from Dayle Paustian with 1:37 left in the first half for a 1-1 scoreline at intermission.

There were just seven total shots in the first half, four by ESU and three by West Chester, before the Warriors posted a 16-6 advantage in shots in the second half for a 20-9 total in the contest.

Harrold scored the go-ahead goal 14:23 into the second half on a scramble in front of the cage following a penalty corner, and Miro knocked in a cross from McCarthy for an insurance goal five minutes later.

Junior goalkeeper Danielle Ard made three saves for ESU. Brianna Magner started and had five saves in 54:34 for West Chester, leaving after the third goal, with Sarah Krause making four saves in the final 15:26.

West Chester entered as the top scoring team in DII (3.74 goals per game) with 71 goals in 19 contests, but the Warriors midfield - including junior Desiraye Mack (1st team All-PSAC) and Snyder (2nd team All-PSAC) - and back line of junior Emily Howell (1st team All-PSAC), senior Amanda Wnorowski (3rd team All-PSAC) and junior Morgan Firestine (3rd team All-PSAC) - held the Golden Rams to just nine shots and three shots on goal.

ESU entered the contest ranked second in DII in scoring defense (0.77 goals per game) and has surrendered just 15 goals in 19 games this fall.

On Sunday, ESU will pursue its first PSAC championship, and Millersville will play for its fourth, winning in 1985, 1986 and 2013.