Penn State Harrisburg 5, SUNY Poly 2

Harrisburg Starters

Haladay, Haldeman, Radanovic, S. Hemler, Sharrow, Socash, Vavrek, Clippinger, Kosovac, Williams, Bressler 

SUNY Poly Starters

Bianca, George, Greene, Lawrence, Smith, Baratto, Arnold, Gowett, Harrison, Marcolin, Garrison

How It Happened

Penn State Harrisburg (9-9-1, 7-2-1) defeated SUNY Poly (7-7-1, 6-4) 5-2 in the team's final regular season game to solidify a spot in the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) postseason tournament. Rhyan Socash continued her excellent sophomore campaign by posting her second hat trick of the season.

The Lions offense came out strong and took control of the game in the opening minutes. Putting the Wildcats under constant pressure, Harrisburg earned a corner kick in the fifth minute. Danielle Bressler took the kick, bending the ball around the near post and into the back of the net, scoring her first goal of the season in the process.

Harrisburg continued to control play and earned another corner kick in the 13th minute. Bressler would deliver another quality kick, this time finding Mackenzie Haladay who flicked the ball over to Socash, allowing her to score her first goal of the game. Socash would strike again several minutes later, when she gathered up a loose ball, drove toward goal, and rocketed a shot past the Wildcats goalkeeper, putting Harrisburg ahead 3-0.

The Wildcats answered scoring in the 32nd minute when Sarah George scored after gathering a ball deflect by Lions goalkeeper Hannah Williams. The Blue & White would answer back just before halftime. Shelia Anasary drove from the midfield toward goal, finding a wide-open Kristen Stark. Stark then buried the shot, scoring her fourth goal of the season giving the Lions a 4-1 lead heading into the half.

In the 59th minute, SUNY Poly's George found Michayla Cummings who scored the Wildcats second goal of the contest. In the 71st, Socash drew a foul in the box and then scored on the ensuing penalty kick to put the Lions ahead 5-2. Socash has now scored a team leading 12 goals this season.

Inside the Numbers

- Rhyan Socash posted her second hat trick of the season, striking in the 13th, 22nd, and 71st minutes to give her 12 goals this season

- Harrisburg outshot the Wildcats 25-6 and held a 4-1 advantage in corner kicks

- Kristen Stark found the back of the net for the fourth time this season

- Danielle Bressler scored her first goal of the season when she bent in a corner kick in the fifth minute

-For SUNY Poly Sarah George and Michayla Cummings each found the back of the net

Who's Next?

The Lions have a clinched a berth in the NEAC playoffs and will host a play-in game on Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 2 p.m., with the opponent to be determined after all regular season play has been completed.

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