BLOOMSBURG – Kevin Holmes scored his 15th goal of the season as the East Stroudsburg University men’s soccer team beat Lock Haven University 1-0 in double overtime, Sunday in front of a large crowd at Bloomsburg’s Sports Stadium to win the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championship.
Holmes knocked in a left-footed shot off of Jeff Bell throw 1:07 seconds into the second overtime as ESU won its 18th PSAC title.
The game was moved to Bloomsburg because of sloppy playing conditions in the Poconos and was played in heavy winds with gusts up to 35 miles per hours.
Holmes, tied for the PSAC lead with 14 goals scored during the regular season, was named the tournament’s most valuable player after scoring the game-winning goal, his second of the season.
The Warriors have won the last 12 conference championship games in which they have participated and 12 out of the last 15. It was the 14th PSAC title for head coach Jerry Sheska who is in his 25th season.
Sunday marked the 15th time ESU has played Lock Haven for the conference title with ESU winning 10 times.
ESU earned a spot in the NCAA Division II playoffs with the victory. Pairings will be announced Monday and games will begin Thursday or Friday at sites and times to be determined. Dowling was the No. 1 seed in the regional rankings, followed by ESU and Lock Haven. The regional rankings determine playoff participants.
Bell set-up the game winning score with a long throw in into the penalty box. The throw floated over the head of Roshane Ellison and Holmes knocked in the only goal of the game.
Lock Haven held a 14-12 advantage in shots on goals but only three came after the first 45 minutes. The ESU defense – Copeland Lewis, Ryan Love and Jeff Herber – helped keep the game scoreless and keeper Dan Frick made five saves for his eighth shutout of the season. It was the sixth straight shutout for the Warriors and 12th shutout of the season.
The Warriors are now 17-1-3 while Lock Haven is 16-5-1.
ESU 1, Lock Haven 0
ESU – Kevin Holmes (Jeff Bell) 111:07
Shots: ESU 12, LHU 14
Corners: ESU 5, LHU 7
Saves: ESU (Dan Frick, 5); LHU (Chad Ferrar, 8)