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PSAC Tournament information: PSAC women's soccer page

Update: Quarterfinals - No. 7 seed ESU at No. 2 seed West Chester (Tuesday, 1 p.m.)

EAST STROUDSBURG - Defending PSAC women's soccer champion East Stroudsburg University scored four goals in a span of 18:43 midway through the second half and knocked off No. 1-ranked Gannon, 4-2, to clinch a spot in next week's PSAC Tournament on Friday afternoon at Eiler-Martin Stadium.

ESU (9-6-1, 9-6-1) will play a quarterfinal game at an opponent to be determined on Tuesday afternoon after handing Gannon (17-1, 15-1) its first loss of the season.

A year after a memorable 20-1-1 campaign that included both the PSAC regular season and tournament titles, the Warriors entered the final weekend of the regular season needing a win to clinch a PSAC Tournament spot. ESU would have had to wait out Saturday's results to determine its postseason status with a tie or a loss vs. Gannon.

Gannon led 1-0 on a goal by Amanda Gallant, assisted by Mani Brueckner, the PSAC's leading scorer, in the 23rd minute and maintained the lead until the 60th minute.

Senior forward Sammi Jo Hughes scored for the Warriors in the 61st minute, junior back Hannah Gombos in the 65th, junior midfielder Shea Neal in the 73rd and junior forward Brielyn Hackett in the 79th before Kaitlyn Kissell pulled a goal back for Gannon in the 82nd minute.

ESU's barrage marked the first time this season that Gannon had allowed more than one goal. The Golden Knights held a 41-9 goal differential, including a 36-8 mark in 15 games against PSAC schools, entering the weekend.

Sophomore Jules Harris made a career-high nine saves for the Warriors, including several crucial stops in each half. Gannon held a 15-14 edge in shots in the contest and an 11-9 margin in shots on goal. Shannon Differ had five saves for Gannon.

ESU played a No. 1-ranked team for the first time in program history, and Gannon was the first-ever PSAC school to earn a No. 1 national ranking in women's soccer. ESU was ranked as high as No. 2 in DII last season following its 20-game winning streak, the second-longest in conference history.

The Warriors were previously 1-12 against top-five teams in the NSCAA DII poll with its only win a 2-0 verdict vs. No. 3 Slippery Rock on October 10, 2004.

ESU recognized three seniors - Hughes (72 career starts), midfielder Syrandin Deere Vester (49 career starts) and back Maddie Corwin - prior to their final home games for the Warriors.

Hughes scored her sixth goal of the year and the 21st of her career, moving into a tie for sixth in school history.

Neal, the reigning PSAC Athlete of the Week and the initial first team All-America selection in program history last year, had a goal and an assist, pushing her season totals to seven goals and three assists. She became the eighth ESU player with 20 career goals.

Gombos scored her first goal of the year and the fifth of her career to put the Warriors ahead in the 65th minute. Hackett sealed it with her fourth goal of the season and 12th of her career.

Neal assisted on Hughes' opening goal, Gombos scored unassisted on a 35-yard shot from the right wing, Neal headed in a 40-yard free kick by freshman back Kyra Dubost, and Hackett scored on a breakway after a clear by sophomore midfielder Sammi Ortiz.

ESU improves to 5-1-1 in its all-time series vs. Gannon and 4-0 at Eiler-Martin Stadium.

GAME NOTES
* ESU trailed 1-0 at half and had been 4-30-7 when trailing at the half since 2007.

* ESU qualified for the PSAC Tournament for the 6th time in 9 seasons under head coach Rob Berkowitz.
* Berkowitz, the 2014 PSAC Coach of the Year, improved to 98-57-18 as head coach at ESU.