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PSAC Soccer Championships Preview
(October 29, 2007)

Tournament teams and first-round pairings for the 2007 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Women's and Men's Soccer Championships have now been determined. 

The women's playoffs begin with quarterfinal action on Tuesday, October 30.  In the Eastern Division, third-seeded Bloomsburg will travel to second-seeded East Stroudsburg for a 4 p.m. battle.  The Western Division match-up pits No. 3 IUP at No. 2 Edinboro, which is slated for a 1 p.m. start. 

The semifinals will take place on Friday, Nov. 2 with the winner of the Eastern Division contest advancing to play at top-seeded West Chester, while in the Western Division, Slippery Rock hosts the IUP-Edinboro winner at 4 p.m.  The winners of the semifinals will meet in the PSAC title game at the site of the highest remaining seed in the Eastern Division on Sunday, Nov. 4 at 1 p.m.

For the men, semifinals take place Wednesday, Oct. 31 with fourth-seeded West Chester traveling to No. 1 East Stroudsburg, while third-ranked Millersville heads to No. 2 Lock Haven.  The championship game will be held at the site of the highest remaining seed on Saturday, Nov. 3 at 1 p.m.

Women

Bloomsburg is looking for its first conference title since 2002 when the Huskies defeated Millersville for its third PSAC title and is making its 10th overall playoff appearance.  The third-seed Huskies (7-6-4, 5-4-3 PSAC East) are led by freshman forward Meg Donlon, who owns a team-best five goals.  She leads an offense that has seen 11 different players score a goal this season, including the trio of Ashley Brucker, Lauren Hess and Kelsey Stoka who each recorded three goals.  Eileen Alexander will anchor a strong core of veterans on defense.

E. Stroudsburg marks its second appearance in the conference tournament since 1998 and its sixth in the last 14 years as the Warriors fell to Kutztown in the first round of the 2005 tourney, 3-1.  E. Stroudsburg has won two PSAC titles, with the last coming in 1997 and the first in 1994.  This year's squad (11-6-1, 8-3-1 PSAC East) was picked to finish fifth in the Eastern Division by the coaches after posting a 7-11-2 overall record, 3-9-0 PSAC East a year ago.  Leading the offense is junior forward Lynda Hicks (11 goals, 2 assists).  Teaming with Hicks on offense is a trio of juniors in Dena Schleifer, Janel Cleffi and Tara Takac, who each own seven goals.  Goalie Janine Turcio (0.90 GAA, 3 SHO) along with back Brittany Staub, a three-time All-PSAC East selection, will anchor the defense.

IUP returns to the PSAC tournament after falling in last year's finals to West Chester, 2-1.  The Crimson Hawks then advanced to the Northeast Region finals after posting the program's first-ever NCAA tournament win with a 3-1 victory over New Haven, only to lose to the Golden Rams for the third time in 2006.  IUP returns six starters from that squad and is led by reigning PSAC West Player and Rookie of the Year Sarah Romasco.  The sophomore owns 20 goals and 11 assists while 15 different Crimson Hawks have scored at least once this season.  Classmates Ray Schreiner and Carina Honeygosky each are tied for second on the team with freshman Melissa Kornock with seven goals apiece. 

Edinboro (12-4-3 overall, 6-2-2 PSAC West) is back in the PSAC playoffs after a one-year hiatus.  This marks the first-ever home playoff contest and fourth overall berth for Edinboro soccer.  The Fighting Scots get their scoring punch from Angie de Almeida, who ranks fifth in the league in both points (22 - 1.26/gm) and goals (9 - .67/gm).  Also in the mix is Heather Weismiller (5 goals, 3 assists) and Ashley Pulman (5 goals, 4 assists).  Lisa Bartolowits (0.93GAA) and Samantha Cairns (1.15 GAA) share the goaltending duties.  The road team won both games in the series this season - Edinboro claimed a 2-1 win at IUP and IUP won a 3-2 double-overtime contest at Edinboro.    

Men

West Chester is making its second straight appearance in the postseason, and last played in the championship game in 2004.  The Golden Rams are still seeking their first conference title.  A convincing 8-1 win over Bloomsburg on Saturday secured the final playoff spot, as West Chester (11-9 overall, 9-7 PSAC) nipped California and Slippery Rock by one point.  West Chester is led in scoring by Frank DeMas (8 goals, 3 assists) and David Miller (6 goals, 4 assists), as well as Zac Tassone (7 goals, 3 assists) and Ricky Williamson (7 goals, 1 assist).  Garret Santora and Justin Johnson have split the goalkeeping duties 

Millersville returns to the PSAC playoffs for the first time since 2004 when it lost an opening round game at Lock Haven.  The Marauders are looking for their first-ever PSAC title in the sport.  This year's group enters the contest 11-7-1 overall and 10-5-1 in the PSAC.  Most of their scoring has come from Sean McLaughlin (9 goals, 7 assists), Ryan Kiley (7 goals, 2 assists) and Kyle Loughlin (4 goals, 4 assists).  Matt Langione mans the net, owning a 1.52 GAA. 

Lock Haven hopes to return to the PSAC Championship Game after falling to East Stroudsburg, 1-0, in last year's title tilt.  The Bald Eagle program boasts a league-best 20 overall titles, including their most recent, in 2004.  Lock Haven enters the postseason at 12-6 overall and 11-5 in PSAC play, which includes a season sweep over Millersville (3-2 OT, 4-0).  Ashely Rosindale leads the conference with 1.76 points per game (10 goals, 10 assists), and gets support from Paul Huckett (7 goals, 10 assists) and Martin Pletz (6 goals, 1 assist).  LHU goalkeeper Chad Feerrar carries a 1.20 GAA, fourth among league players.     

East Stroudsburg will look to defend its PSAC title from a year ago, its first since the 2003 season.  The Warriors have 18 overall crowns, and have won 12 of the last 15 title games.  This year they averaged 2.38 goals per game in conference action, best among the league, behind top scorers Roshane Ellison (10 goals, 2 assists) and Jason Shegda (9 goals, 3 assists).  Kevin Holmes (8 goals), Jason Rudder (6) and Danny Drago (5) are other top threats.  Goalkeeper Larry Pokrywa leads the PSAC with a 0.73 GAA.  East Stroudsburg defeated West Chester twice by counts of 2-1 and 1-0.      
 

Slippery Rock