Leif Johnson

Staff Writer

The Millersville University Women’s Lacrosse team crossed into the second half of their season this past week by splitting the two games on their schedule. Both the win and the loss still give the Marauders a great deal of encouragement considering the opponents they were facing.

Millersville's Sabrina Fusco squared up against Bloomsburg.
Millersville’s Sabrina Fusco squared up against Bloomsburg.

On Wednesday, March 23rd, the Marauders hosted Bloomsburg University. The Marauders had not beaten the Huskies in over 15 years but to reach the team goal of qualifying for the PSAC playoffs, these are the teams that must be beaten. Millersville held the advantage for most of the match, leading by as many as 4 goals but Bloomsburg would not allow the Marauders to put them away. With just under 11 minutes to play in the game, Bloomsburg would score to cut the Marauder lead to just one goal with a score of 14-13. The last 10 minutes of the game would prove to be a back and forth effort by both teams filled with intensity.

Head Coach Mia Hall knew that her team was prepared for this. “We talk daily about the mental toughness we need to have. As a coach and as a player you need to let your failures and regrets become positives. Six, 1-2 goal losses (from last season) make you sick.” This was not lost on the players as Coach Hall pointed out. “I watched one of my seniors, Abby Mack scream out: “Guys we have this game!” She was incredibly positive and it was the reminder we all needed that, as a team mentally we couldn’t quit because the game wasn’t over.”

That mental toughness paid off because the Marauders would hold on with several successful defensive stops including a huge save by freshman keeper Bryana Weston-Wyatt with just seconds to go in the game. The Marauders finally broke the streak against Bloomsburg with the final 14-13. “This game had a lot of significance to this team and to me.” said Head Coach Mia Hall. “For me as a player here, when we played Bloomsburg we would lose the game in the last minute by 1 goal. Last season created a lot of fuel for us.”

Millersville went right back to work this past Saturday as they travelled to 17th ranked Seton Hill, a tough squad that had completely handled the Marauders a year ago. The game was tight throughout but eventually Seton Hill would pull away by scoring 5 of the last 7 goals of the match winning by a score of 18-13.

Millersville faced Shippensburg on Tuesday.
Millersville faced Shippensburg on Tuesday.

At midseason the Marauder offense has been paced by team point’s leader senior Bridget Hufnagel who contributed 27 goals and 13 assists and sophomore goal leader Sabrina Fusco who has tallied 30 goals with 9 assists. On defense freshman Tessa Kircher leads the squad with 19 ground balls followed closely by fellow freshman Brooke Davis with 18 pickups.

The Millersville lacrosse team returned to action this Tuesday as they travelled to Shippensburg and then return home for a big Friday bout against 7th ranked Mercyhurst.