SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University men's soccer team engaged in an exhilarating Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Quarterfinal with East Stroudsburg on Tuesday that ended in a 0-0 tie, but the visiting Warriors earned the right to advance in the tournament by claiming the penalty-kick shootout, 4-2.

Shippensburg (10-3-4) and East Stroudsburg (9-7-1) went to overtime for the fifth time in the last six meetings of the overall series, but Tuesday's match was the first in that span to end in a tie. Tuesday also marked SU's first home PSAC Tournament match since the same two schools went to a penalty-kick shootout in 2010 from which SU won the conference title.
 
Both squads exchanged spirited scoring chances throughout the match, yet the territorial edge was mostly claimed by visiting East Stroudsburg. The Warriors finished with a 10-3 advantage in shots on goal and a 13-3 margin in corner kicks.
 
Senior goalkeeper Garret Watson played the match of his life on Tuesday, setting a season high and equaling a career high with nine saves. Watson made several diving saves to keep the Warriors out of the net, and was absolutely essential to the team's eighth shutout of the season.  
 
Despite a fervent attack from the Warriors in the second half, SU nearly came away with a victory late in regulation but narrowly missed on two splendid scoring chances in the final five minutes. The second featured a shot off a corner kick from point-blank range that soared above the crossbar.
 
In the penalty-kick shootout, ESU replaced starting goalkeeper Will Boerema with fellow senior Steven Robak. The Warriors converted all four of their attempts with rocket shots to the corners of the frame, and took the decision as a result of Robak making a save on the first attempt and SU's fourth attempt ringing off the crossbar.
 
East Stroudsburg, the PSAC's leader in goals, was shutout out for the second time this season by the Raiders. The Warriors have been shutout just three times overall in 2018 – twice by the Raiders and once by conference front-runner West Chester.
 
The NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Championships Selection Show airs Monday on ncaa.com.