To win a conference championship in any sport is difficult. To win consecutive PSAC Men’s Soccer Championships is a feat that only two other teams have accomplished in more than 50 years—before this year.
The Millersville Marauders defeated No. 5 Gannon University 1-0 to claim back-to-back PSAC titles in front of a raucous home crowd at Pucillo Field.
The victory is the program’s third overall PSAC championship, having also raised trophies in 2011 and 2018. No PSAC team has earned back-to-back titles since East Stroudsburg accomplished the feat in 2006 and 2007.
“To go back-to-back is unbelievable,” said Millersville head coach STEVEN WIDDOWSON. “People don’t do it. When we walked off the field after the 5-1 battering by Wilmington in the first game of the season, I don’t think anyone would have given us a chance at making the final, but we were fantastic today. My guys were absolutely superb. This is what we’ve built up to. It’s a marathon, not a sprint, and we’ve timed it right again.”
BOB HENNESSEY scored the only goal of the game just 30 seconds into the second half, when Matteo Adiletta threaded a ball to him in the penalty box. Hennessey cut it back to his left and tucked the ball away just inside the left post.
The Millersville victory ended Gannon’s 11-game winning streak. Goalkeeper DARIAN MCCAULEY was voted tournament MVP after keeping a clean sheet in the championship game in addition to making eight critical saves in the 2-1 semifinal win over Mercyhurst.
Millersville qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive season. Senior JACOB GOSSELIN was voted the PSAC East Athlete of the Year, and the league recognized Widdowson as the PSAC East Coach of the Year.