(Lock Haven, Pa.) -  Lock Haven’s Katie Taylor (Hammonton, N.J./Edgewood) tallied the game-winner in the 99th minute of play to give the Lady Eagles (18-3) the 3-2 overtime victory over Slippery Rock University (14-5) in the NCAA Division II Northeast Region Championship game held at McCollum Field this afternoon.

LHU controlled the tempo throughout the first half, outshooting The Rock 8-0 and scoring the first goal of the game on a give-and-go play from Katie Taylor to Becky Nichols (Wind Gap/Nazareth) in just the fifth minute of play. Nichols gained the ball just inside midfield, and played it forward, slicing through defenders to pass to a waiting Taylor, who one-touched it back to Nichols. Nichols slid the ball right past the keeper into the back of the net to make the score 1-0 in favor of the Lady Eagles.

Slippery Rock opened the second half on a tear, keeping the ball on the attack for most of the first ten minutes of action. With 22 minutes left, SRU got its first real scoring opportunity off a cornerkick. LHU attempted to clear the ball but Maureen Ennis (Brookfield, Ireland/St. Alders C.S.) got a foot on it at the top of the 18-yard box and booted it toward the goal but had the shot go just high over the crossbar. It would be only two minutes later that The Rock would get one to go in, however, as Sara Arsenault (Rome, N.Y./Rome Free Academy) broke away down the right sideline, then beat the keeper at the top of the box and finished off the run by burying the ball in the back of the net to bring the score to 1-1.

With just over four minutes remaining in the second half and Lock Haven on the attack, Katie Taylor took the ball in the middle, then passed left to Brooke Rangi (Kawerau, New Zealand/Kawerau). Rangi sent the shot into the back of the net to the right of the keeper, giving Lock Haven the late 2-1 advantage. Slippery Rock fought back hard, and earned a cornerkick in the 90th minute. Arsenault took the corner, and Jessica Markowski (North Royalton, Ohio/Padua Franciscan) met the ball at the far corner of the goal, sneaking the ball past the Haven keeper to tie up the game at 2-2 with just 30 seconds remaining in regulation.

Into overtime, both squads were able to work the ball downfield and take chances on goal only to be halted by the opposing defense. Eight minutes into the first extra stanza, Lock Haven spread the field and went on the attack. Naomi Clarke (Cambridge, New Zealand (St. Peter’s School) found Katie Taylor breaking on her right, and sent the pass forward. Taylor met the ball and saw an opening in the left corner of the goal, shooting the ball past the SRU keeper for the score and the victory.

Lock Haven advances to the national quarterfinals for the second time in the program’s history, and will face New England Region champion Franklin Pierce College, who defeated Merrimack College, 2-1, in overtime, in action this afternoon. LHU’s last quarterfinal appearance was in 1999, a 3-1 loss to the eventual national champion Franklin Pierce College.

Last minute heroics by Lock Haven freshman Danielle Smith (Johnson, N.Y./Minisink Valley) lifted the Lock Haven University women’s soccer team over Bloomsburg University, 2-1 in the fourth overtime, for the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference post-season tournament title this afternoon on McCollum Field.

It is Lock Haven’s third straight PSAC post-season tournament title and third overall, boosting the Lady Eagles to a 17-3-0 overall record. Bloomsburg University falls to 15-3-1 overall.

In an almost identical repeat of last season’s four-overtime thriller (LHU won, 3-2) between the two programs for the conference title, LHU’s Smith was named the championship MVP after scoring both of Lock Haven’s goals. Smith’s goal in the 144th minute reflected last year’s result, also a game-winning score in the 144th minute of play.

The first half was an evenly played but intensely physical battle, with both teams entering into intermission in a 0-0 tie. Bloomsburg had one near-scoring opportunity in the first half, as Kerry Eberhardt (Layton, N.J./Kittatinny Regional) passed forward to Rebecca Stametz (Shamokin/Southern Columbia), who worked downfield, side-stepped the charging LHU keeper at five-yards out, then got off a rolling shot on goal. With the LHU keeper beat, defender Shannon Becker (Durham/Palisades) came to the rescue, stopping the ball on the goal line to prevent the score.

The start of the second half picked up where the first had left off. In the 55th minute, just seconds after entering the game, Bloomsburg’s Nicole Yerkes (Mt. Holly, N.J./Rancocas Valley) took a ball down the left sideline. After maneuvering around the defense to get off a clean shot, she sent a deep cross ball that floated above the outstretched arms of the Haven keeper into the back corner of the net to put Bloomsburg ahead, 1-0.

That lead held for almost the remainder of the half, as Lock Haven brought on the attack but could not get anything in the net. With 3:30 to go in the game, a corner kick attempt by LHU came close, but the header went just wide of the goal. The next corner would do the trick, however, as Kristi Ward (Philadelphia/Nazareth Academy) sent the kick out in front of the goal, and after a quick scuffle, Danielle Smith came up with the ball at the top left corner of the box and rocketed the shot through the pipes for the equalizer with just 51 seconds left in regulation.

Three scoreless sudden victory overtimes followed, and in each stanza, both teams took turns playing off momentum and short surges of attacking but with no goals to account for.

As time wound down in the final overtime, Lock Haven was awarded a free kick from 30 yards out. The kick went right on goal, but the Bloomsburg defense knocked it down. Another frenzy in front of the goal for control of the ball ensued, and with the ball loose in the air on the left hand side of the box, Smith came up with the ball again, and headed it right past the keeper to capture the Haven victory.

The Lock Haven University Lady Eagle soccer team will be going for its third straight PSAC championship crown on Sunday, defeating Indiana (Pa.) University, 4-0, in semifinal action this afternoon on LHU’s McCollum Field. The Lady Eagles, the tournament’s top seed, will face #2 seed Bloomsburg University, the 1-0 winner over #3 Edinboro University in the other semifinal game.

Lock Haven’s Katie Taylor (Hammonton, N.J./Edgewood) netted two scores and an assist to pace the defending champion’s charge. Action was centered on the Haven’s attack for the greater part of the first half, as several near misses and four first-half keeper saves by Indiana’s LaToya Wallace (Baltimore, Md./Catonsville CC) thwarted LHU chances on goal. With just over two minutes remaining in the first half, however, Katie Taylor gained possession and worked through two defenders at the top left corner of the 18-yard box then passed right. Lady Eagle forward Naomi Clarke (Cambridge, New Zealand) met the ball from seven yards out and sent it over the keeper’s head to put LHU on the scoreboard before intermission, 1-0.

The second half was much the same, as the LHU offense bombarded the Indiana defense with shot after shot resulting in three more goals. Katie Taylor scored twice in the second stanza, pocketing her first by sliding a ball into the back right post off a left cross from Brooke Rangi (Kawerau, New Zealand). In the 65th minute, Becky Nichols (Wind Gap/Nazareth) broke down the right side of the field, beating several defenders before passing left to Taylor who met the ball in front of the goal and won the one-on-one with the Indiana keeper to punch LHU ahead by three goals, 3-0.

Lock Haven’s final goal was tacked on in the 85th minute by senior midfielder Erin McKasson (Irwin/Penn Trafford), who took a feed from Adria Vitale (Philadelphia/St. Maria Goretti) and created the angle from deep right to send one into the back of the net.

LHU netminder Ashley Babiarz (Philadelphia/Northeast) posted her fourth shutout victory, making one save. Indiana’s LaToya Wallace spent the first 76 minutes in goal, stopping five shots while allowing three goals. Backup keeper Sarah Daw (New Freedom/Susquehannock) registered 14 minutes with one save and one goal against.

Up Next: The LHU women’s soccer team will host #2 seed Bloomsburg University for the conference title in a rematch of the 2000 PSAC Championship on Sunday, November 4, at 1 p.m. on McCollum Field. Bloomsburg defeated #3 seed Edinboro University, 1-0, in semifinal action this afternoon.

The Lady Eagles finished out the regular season with a 2-1, double overtime, victory over West Chester University this afternoon, sealing the regular season Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference title and the first seed for the conference tournament.

Both teams pocketed goals in the first half, Lock Haven getting on board first with a score off the foot of Erin McKasson (Irwin/Penn Trafford). West Chester answered with a goal in the 34th minute to knot the game at 1-1, and neither team was able to find the back of the net in regulation to break the tie. After 22 more scoreless minutes of play in overtime, the Lady Eagles’ Naomi Clarke(Cambridge, New Zealand) and Brooke Rangi (Kawerau, New Zealand) finally connected, a goal by Clarke giving Lock Haven the victory in the 113th minute.

LHU netminder Ashley Babiarz (Philadelphia/Northeast) posted four saves with one goal allowed, while West Chester’s Ryan Levine had eight saves with two goals against.

A strong second half and persistent offensive attacking lifted the Lady Eagles over their visitors from Indiana (Pa.) University, 3-0. LHU improves to 9-1 in the conference and 14-3 overall. Indiana is now 7-2-1 in the PSAC and 11-3-1 overall.

Knotted up in a scoreless tie at the half, Lock Haven continued to try to pound the ball into the back of the cage, outshooting Indiana 20-6 on the game. In the 55th minute with the Lady Eagles on the attack, the offense drew the Indiana keeper out of the box and Erin McKasson (Irwin/Penn Trafford) knocked a slider past and into the left corner of the net for LHU’s first goal. Naomi Clarke (Cambridge, New Zealand) threaded a pass to Kristi Ward (Philadelphia/Nazareth Academy), who lifted the ball up over the keeper and into the back of the net for the LHU 2-0 advantage.

The Lady Eagles made it 3-0 in the 82nd minute, as Clarke crossed left in front of the goal and Katie Taylor (Hammonton, N.J./Edgewood) dove to get the first touch, heading the ball between the uprights to bring the final tally to 3-0 in favor of The Haven.

LHU keeper Ashley Babiarz (Philadelphia/Northeast) spent all 90 minutes in goal, recording six saves and her third shutout of the season. Indiana netminder LaToya Wallace rejected nine Haven shots on goal in the full 90 minutes of play.

Naomi Clarke (Cambridge, New Zealand) netted two goals to help lift #8 Lock Haven over C.W. Post, 3-0, in early afternoon action on McCollum Field.

Clarke headed a cross from Erin McKasson (Irwin/Penn Trafford) into the back of the net to give the Lady Eagles the 1-0 lead in the game’s 22nd minute. Becky Nichols (Wind Gap/Nazareth) hit paydirt just a minute and a half later, converting a corner kick off the foot of McKasson to send LHU into halftime with the two goal advantage.

Lock Haven’s Brooke Rangi (Kawerau, New Zealand/Kawerau College) kicked a short ball over to Clarke early in the second half, and Clarke sent it through the C.W. Post defenders and to the back of the net from 20 yards out to complete Haven scoring.

LHU keeper Ashley Babiarz (Philadelphia/Northeast) posted her second shutout of the season, also recording six saves. C.W. Post keeper Paige Pepper tallied four saves while playing all 90 minutes.

The #8 ranked Lady Eagles were shocked by Slippery Rock University this evening, falling 2-0 in the conference match-up under the lights at Central Mountain High School’s McGill Field.

Despite a sizeable advantage for Lock Haven in shots on goal, missed opportunities along with standout defense by SRU keeper Allyn Blind (13 saves) kept the Lady Eagles off the scoreboard. Slippery Rock’s Sara Arsenault got her foot on a deflected ball late in the first half, tapping the ball across the goal line past a diving LHU keeper in the game’s 39th minute. Kelly Dreibelbis added the insurance goal in the 54th minute, taking advantage of a Haven defensive breakdown and driving the ball far left into the back of the net.

LHU netminder Brandie Kessler (Bethlehem/Saucon Valley) recorded one save with two goals allowed. SRU’s Blind had 13 saves over the 90 minutes with no goals allowed.

In the 2000 season, Lock Haven suffered its only loss of the PSAC regular season to Slippery Rock, a 1-0 overtime defeat.

The #14 Lady Eagle soccer team shutout the Vulcans of California (Pa.) University, 2-0, in PSAC action this evening. The Haven tandem of Katie Taylor (Hammonton, N.J./Edgewood) and Kristi Ward (Philadelphia/Nazareth Academy) combined for the Lady Eagles’ two goals.

Taylor found the back of the net in the game’s 12th minute off a short pass from Ward about 10 yards in front of the goal to give LHU the 1-0 halftime advantage. In the second half, it was Taylor who fed Ward the ball for the score, boosting the final margin of victory to 2-0.

LHU netminder Ashley Babiarz (Philadelphia/Northeast) earned the shutout win, while Vulcan keeper Dana Galiffa registered five saves while allowing two scores.

#14 Lock Haven toppled #6 Bloomsburg University in conference action this afternoon, defeating the Huskies, 2-0, in Bloomsburg, Pa. The Lady Eagles improve to 11-2 overall and at 7-0 in the PSAC, LHU is now the only undefeated team in the conference.

An intense battle ensued from the start, but it was Lock Haven that scored first, jumping ahead by one goal in the 32nd minute. The Haven defense cleared the ball, and midfielder Brooke Rangi (Kawerau, New Zealand/Kawerau College) headed it forward towards the box. Naomi Clarke (Cambridge, New Zealand) met the ball around 25 yards out and rocketed it into the back of the net for the score.

Both teams played even for most of the second half, but with just over five minutes remaining, Erin McKasson (Irwin/Penn Trafford) got her foot on the ball and sent a long cross down to the goal. Joanna Bisphan (Hamilton, New Zealand) earned the first touch, heading the ball to the far post past the Bloomsburg keeper for the insurance goal.

LHU netminder Brandie Kessler (Bethlehem/Saucon Valley) posted three saves and her fourth shutout of the season. Bloomsburg keeper Heather Hartman recorded two saves in the loss.

The Lady Eagles were upset in today's game against Adelphi University, 2-0.  Lock Haven posted a 12-8 shots-on-goal advantage, but were unable to convert.  Adelphi's Josephine Coiro scored both goals of the game. 

The #6-ranked Lady Eagles dominated conference opponent Clarion University, 7-0, earning their fifth shutout victory of the season. Lock Haven improves to 10-1 overall and 6-0 in the PSAC.

Junior forward Katie Taylor (Hammonton, N.J./Edgewood) paced Haven scorers, netting a pair of goals along with an assist on the first goal of the game. Freshman midfielder Brooke Rangi (Kawerau, New Zealand/Kawerau College) scored off the assist from Taylor in the game’s fourth minute to put LHU in the early lead. The 1-0 score held up until close to the end of the half before Taylor and Naomi Clarke (Cambridge, New Zealand) pocketed goals to give Lock Haven the 3-0 halftime lead.

Scoring for the Lady Eagles in the second half were Joanna Bisphan (Hamilton, New Zealand), Danielle Smith (Johnson, N.Y./Minisink Valley), Taylor, and Melissa Hibbert (Huntingdon Valley/William Tennent).

Splitting time between the pipes for Lock Haven were freshmen Laura Carr (Warminster/Archbishop Wood) and Ashley Babiarz (Philadelphia/Northeast). Clarion keeper Christina Gattens registered eight saves, playing all 90 minutes.

Haven midfielder Naomi Clarke (Cambridge, New Zealand) scored twice to help lift #7 Lock Haven over East Stroudsburg University, 3-1, in conference action on McCollum Field this afternoon.

The Lady Eagles jumped out into the lead early, as freshman midfielder Brooke Rangi (Kawerau, New Zealand/Kawerau College) buried a cross from Kristi Ward (Philadelphia/Nazareth Academy). East Stroudsburg leading scorer Justina Woolf answered with a 25-yard goal on a set play off an indirect kick, knotting the game at 1-1.

In the 39th minute, Lock Haven’s Ward passed over to Clarke, who rocketed the ball into the back of the net from behind the left corner of the 18-yard box to give the Lady Eagles the one-goal cushion just before the half. Clarke added the insurance goal towards the close of the game after receiving a deep cross from Katie Taylor (Hammonton, N.J./Edgewood). Taylor beat the last defender then drew out the ESU keeper, crossing right to Clarke for the final score.

In goal, Lock Haven’s Brandie Kessler (Bethlehem/Saucon Valley) tallied one keeper save. East Stroudsburg’s Lindsay Vandegrift posted six saves in the box.

The #7 Lock Haven women’s soccer team recorded its third straight shutout with today’s 3-0 victory over PSAC opponent Shippensburg University on McCollum Field.

The Lady Eagle offense controlled the field for most of the game, but came up empty handed until the 33rd minute of play. Lock Haven was awarded a free kick from 25 yards out, and Shannon Becker (Durham/Palisades) lofted a clean shot clear to the back left corner of the goal past the outstretched keeper for the Lady Eagles’ first goal.

A pair of New Zealanders connected for the second goal, as Brooke Rangi (Kawerau, New Zealand/Kawerau College) split the defense for a pass to Naomi Clarke (Cambridge, New Zealand), who was able to boot the ball into the back of the net for the score at 78:26. Rangi scored her own goal in the 81st minute of play. A well-executed corner kick from Kristi Ward (Philadelphia/Nazareth Academy) hit Rangi standing at the top left corner of the 18-yard box with an open view of the goal. Rangi wasted no time at all, sending the ball into the goal to give Lock Haven the 3-0 advantage and the eventual victory.

Shippensburg keeper Christina Ford picked up four saves with three goals against. Lock Haven’s Brandie Kessler (Bethlehem/Saucon Valley) earned her third straight shutout and made two saves.

The #8 Lady Eagle soccer team bettered the visiting Kutztown University Golden Bears, 4-0, in conference action on McCollum Field this afternoon. Sophomore midfielder Naomi Clarke (Cambridge, New Zealand) paced Lock Haven with a goal and an assist.

An intense and physical contest ensued from the start, and the squads went into intermission in a scoreless tie. Coming out in the second half, Lock Haven was able to break down the Kutztown defense resulting in the first score of the game, a back post header by Amy Dunn (Ephrata/Ephrata) off a pass from Clarke in the game’s 50th minute. Four minutes later, Sarah Recher (Lancaster/Hempfield) finished off a cross from Adria Vitale (Philadelphia/St. Maria Goretti) to put LHU ahead, 2-0.

Forward Katie Taylor (Hammonton, N.J./Edgewood) broke free on the left sidelines and crossed the ball to the front of the box, where Clarke won the ball and headed it past the keeper and into the back of the net for the Lady Eagles’ third goal of the game. Capping off the scoring was freshman forward Brooke Rangi (Kawerau, New Zealand/Kawerau College), who left-footed a pass from Kristi Ward (Philadelphia/Nazareth Academy) into the goal.

Junior forward Katie Taylor (Hammonton, N.J./Edgewood) scored a hat trick and senior midfielder Erin McKasson (Irwin/Penn Tafford) scored once and assisted on two of Taylor’s goals to usher LHU past Millersville University this evening, 4-0.

McKasson opened up scoring just over two minutes into the contest with a shot from 18-yards out, and Taylor added a goal off a corner to put LHU ahead early, 2-0. Into the second half, Taylor added her final two goals just 10 minutes apart to seal the victory. Millersville never recovered from LHU’s early start, getting off only five shots on goal throughout the entire contest.

Lock Haven keeper Brandie Kessler (Bethlehem/Saucon Valley) registered her first career shutout, stopping all five ‘Ville shots on goal. Millersville goalie Liz Agro tallied four saves while reserve keeper Carolyn Matisick recorded one save.

Lock Haven, ranked No. 8 nationally, is currently ranked first in the NCAA Division II Northeast Region, while Millersville holds down the No. 4-slot in the regional poll.

Lock Haven University defeated Gannon University 8-1 this afternoon in women’s soccer. Six Lady Eagles contributed goals, led by Naomi Clarke (Cambridge New Zealand) and Rebecca Nichols (Wind Gap/Nazareth) with two goals a piece. Senior Erin McKasson (Irwin/Penn Tafford) contributed three assists as well a goal of her own to help lead the Haven to victory.

The Haven got an early start, as Clarke played a ball from McKasson, sending it through Gannon’s net six minutes into the game. Less than three minutes later, Clarke scored her second goal of the game unassisted. Nichols, McKasson, and Brooke Rangi (Kawerau, New Zealand) netted the remaining three goals off of assists from Katie Taylor (Hammonton, N.J./Edgewood), Nichols, and McKasson. Gannon University’s Kristin Lysiak scored the Lady Knight’s lone goal of the game at the end of the first half.

In the second half, Joanna Bisphan (Hamilton, New Zealand) took an assist from McKasson early to get things rolling for the Haven once again. Seconds later, Nichols scored her second goal of the game off of a pass from Lyndsay Violi (Fairview/Fairview). Kristi Ward (Philadelphia/Nazareth Academy) tallied The Haven’s final score of the game off an assist from Amy Dunn (Ephrata/Ephrata).