EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. – The East Stroudsburg University field hockey team advanced to the NCAA Final Four with a 3-2 win over Bloomsburg in double overtime. This marks the seventh consecutive season the Warriors have reached the semifinals.
Notables
- Emma Friend and Kerry Kaufman each scored game-tying goals for the Warriors.
- Minke Klijn scored the game-winner in double overtime.
- ESU outshot Bloomsburg 12-4 and 9-2 in shots on goal. The Warriors also created eight more corner opportunities.
How It Happened
Bloomsburg opened the scoring with a goal by Kara Koch at 7:12 in the first period. At 5:40 in the second, Jady van Gils sent a shot in off a corner, but Meg Barnard's defensive save kept the Huskies in front for the remainder of the first half.
In the first 22 seconds of the second half, the ball was loose in front of the net, and Emma Friend was able to knock it in to tie the game at 1-1. Near the end of the third period, Jessica Serafin gave Bloomsburg the lead again off a pass from Koch.
Once again, ESU responded. At 6:47 in the final period of regulation, Kerry Kaufman scored to tie the game at 2-2, sending it into overtime.
After a scoreless first overtime, Bloomsburg had a corner chance but was denied. The Warriors answered with a corner of their own, and Minke Klijn scored off the rebound of van Gils' shot to propel ESU to the Final Four.
Up Next
ESU will head south to Gaffney, S.C., for an NCAA Final Four semifinal match Friday at Saints Field against the winner of the St. Anselm-Assumption game, which is set to start at 7 p.m. tonight
