LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – Haleigh Swam (Westminster, Md./Winters Mill) scored twice for the Bald Eagles, but Kay Liebl netted a second-half hat trick and led No. 22 Millersville (13-3, 12-3 PSAC) past Lock Haven University women's soccer team (10-4-1, 10-4-1 PSAC), 3-2, in a tight Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) match.
 
The match featured two of the top-four teams in the most recent NCAA Atlantic Region rankings and tonight's outcome couldn't certainly play a factor in PSAC Tournament seeding and possible NCAA Tournament selection and seeding.
 
Despite the cool fall temperatures, the large crowd on hand at Hubert Jack Stadium was treated to a brilliant 90 minutes of soccer as both teams showed why they entered the night in the national rankings, and in the top of the conference and regional standings.
 
Marah Foltz (Mountville, Pa./Hempfield) and Hayley Predix (Lewistown, Pa./Mifflin County) were both credited with assists on the night. Predix and Ella Jones (Mohnton, Pa./Reading Area C.C.) were both outstanding tonight for Lock Haven in the midfield.
 
Bree Hilty (Lock Haven, Pa./Central Mountain) was solid and finished with six saves, including four in the first half.
 
Lock Haven got another solid effort from its starting back four. Janelle Swartz (Mifflintown, Pa./Juniata), Jordan Shoff (York, Pa./York Suburban), Erika Landis (Watsontown, Pa./Warrior Run) and Taylor Moritz (Harleysville, Pa./Souderton).
 
Just 10:30 into the match, host Lock Haven took the 1-0 lead after Swam set a left-footed shot under a diving Millersville goalkeeper that reached the side netting inside the far post. Swam broke behind the Marauder defense after Foltz played a perfect through ball after winning possession from a MU defender.
 
Swam's goal was the only marker of the first half, as LHU led 1-0 after 45 minutes.
 
At halftime, Lock Haven held a 9-5 shot advantage and shots on goal were even at 4-4. Hilty made four saves in the first half including two great diving saves from close range.
 
Millersville tied the match at 1-1 in the 58^th minute (57:13) on a goal by Kay Liebl after a good build up from the touch line.
 
Exactly four minutes later, Lock Haven struck again as Swam found her second goal of the match. The goal came in the 62^nd minute (61:13) and was set up after Predix made strong run down the sideline, before sending a perfect crossing-pass to Swam. The goal put LHU up 2-1.
 
Liebl, who entered the game alongside Foltz as one of the top scorers in the league, scored her second in the 67th minute and tied the match at 2-2. She wasn't done yet and put Millersville up 3-2 with her third goal of the game in the 71^st minute of play.
 
After 90 minutes, LHU held a slight 13-12 advantage in shots.
 
For Millersville, Liebl's third goal of the night proved to be the game-winner.
 
UP NEXT:
LHU will close the 2018 regular season on Saturday, October 27 at California (Pa.) University. The game is set for a 12 p.m. start.
 
 
NCAA REGIONAL RANKINGS (updated Oct. 24)
Earlier today (Wednesday, October 24), the NCAA released the second edition its 2018 NCAA Division II Atlantic Region rankings. Lock Haven remained at No. 4, behind only No. 1 Bloomsburg, No. 2 Kutztown and No. 3 Millersville. Slippery Rock jumped into the rankings and sits at No. 5, followed by No. 6 West Virginia Wesleyan, No. 7 West Chester and No. 8 Seton Hill.
 
The NCAA regional rankings are an important tool used to select the field for the NCAA Tournament. This is the second of three weekly regional polls that will be released every Wednesday prior to the live NCAA Selection Show on Monday, November 5, at 6:30 p.m. on www.NCAA.com. The top six teams from the Atlantic Region make the NCAA tournament field. The conference tournament champions from the PSAC and the Mountain East Conference (MEC) earn automatic berths in the NCAA Division II tournament regional bracket.
 
1. Bloomsburg
2. Kutztown
3. Millersville
4. Lock Haven
5. Slippery Rock
6. West Virginia Wesleyan
7. West Chester
8. Seton Hill