Box Score

KUTZTOWN – Freshman forward Emily Howell scored the game-winning goal with 54 seconds left in a 3-2 win at Kutztown on Saturday afternoon, and Mercyhurst fell to Bloomsburg, 2-0, on Saturday evening, giving East Stroudsburg University a spot in the PSAC field hockey tournament on the final day of the regular season.

Howell's second career goal, assisted by junior forward Jessica Lawville, capped an ESU (8-10, 5-5) comeback as the Warriors twice trailed by a goal before taking their only lead in the final minute.

ESU will enter the PSAC Tournament, its second since 2003, as the No. 6 seed and travel to No. 3 seed West Chester (13-4, 8-2) for its first round game on Tuesday at 4 p.m. The Golden Rams won the first two meetings, 8-1 at WCU on September 21, and 4-2 at ESU in a PSAC game on October 5.

Senior forward Brielle Kessel scored a first-half goal for ESU, answering an early tally for Kutztown's Erin Reynolds.

In the second half, sophomore forward Ally Roth scored her 20th goal of the season to tie the game at 2-2 with 21:29 left, after Reynolds put Kutztown back in front six minutes earlier.

Roth's goal, assisted by junior midfielder Becky Gagliardi, made her the fifth player in school history to score 20 goals in a season.

Sophomore goalkeeper Alexis Charles made 12 saves, two off her career-high she set in a 3-0 loss at Shippensburg on Tuesday.

Rachel Sanders had 11 saves for Kutztown (7-10, 3-7), which needed a win and some help to qualify for the postseason tournament in its first season under head coach Marci Scheuing.

ESU held a 26-17 advantage in shots, 12-8 in the first half and 14-9 in the second half. The Warriors also had six more penalty corners (10-4).

The Warriors will make their 11th PSAC Tournament appearance overall under head coach Sandy Miller, in her 30th season. ESU is 5-13 in its previous 10 appearances and 2-8 in first round games, advancing to the PSAC championship game in 2001 and 2010. The Warriors would need to win two games to reach the title game under the expanded six-team format.

ESU's most recent PSAC Tournament appearances came in 2010 (reached final), 2002 and 2001 (reached final). The Warriors also qualified under Miller in 1986-91 and 1996.

GAME NOTES
* Roth is tied for 4th in single-season goals at ESU:
1. 32 - Jessica Frantz, 2010
2. 29 - Ashley Kocis, 2006
3. 22 - Ann Marie Dellibovi, 1990
4. 20 - Ally Roth, 2013
    20 - Jane Moffett, 1949

* Roth is 5th in single-season points at ESU:
1. 70 - Jessica Frantz, 2010
2. 59 - Ashley Kocis, 2006
3. 46 - Caitlin Brownley, 2009
   46 - Ann Marie Dellibovi, 1990
5. 45 - Ally Roth, 2013

* Roth is 3 goals from entering ESU's career top 10. She has 30 career goals (10 in 2012, 20 in 2013)
* Roth is 10th in career points with 73 (28 in 2012, 45 in 2013)