Lions eliminated in PSUAC Semifinal

Schuylkill Haven, Pa. - The Nittany Lion Women's Soccer season came to a close on Saturday with a semifinal loss at Penn State Schuylkill. Hazleton was under fire for much of the contest, being out-shot 31-5 in the playoff contest, ultimately falling by a score of 11-2 at the hands of the number two seeded Schuylkill squad. 

Schuylkill struck early in this one, getting goals in the fifth and 12th minute to command the early lead. Hazleton cut the lead to one score just a few minutes later as the Lion's Alyssa Marlowe found the back of the net on a through ball from Alexis Marotto but the Lions were unable to keep up the momentum. Schuylkill's Grace Fenstermacher and Zoe Gannon provided the response in the 16th and 20th minutes, extending Schuylkill's advantage to 4-1. Marotto got the Lions back into the hunt with a goal on a pass from third year Jasmine Bender but once again, the momentum shifted right back to the home squad. Schuylkill tacked on two more scores in the final eight minutes of the half, including one at the horn to go up 6-1. Facing a steep climb in the second half, Hazleton was forced to gamble, but those efforts left plenty of opportunities for Schuylkill who converted five goals in the final 28 minutes of play, extending their lead to 11-2 at the final whistle. 

Hazleton put up a solid effort in this one but Schuylkill proved to be too much for the Nittany Lions. First year keeper Esmerald Telles 16 saves but was forced to contend with 27 shots on goal by the Schuylkill squad. Hazleton will look to rebuild in the off season and look to get over the hump in 2025 after back to back exits in the PSUAC semifinals the past two years.