SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The No. 2-ranked Shippensburg University field hockey team got a goal from redshirt-freshman Alexa Michielsen in the final minute of the first half on Tuesday to get past No. 8 Millersville, 1-0, in a battle of longtime Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) rivals on a grey, damp, dreary day at Robb Sports Complex.
 
Shippensburg (7-2, 2-0 PSAC) and Millersville (4-3, 0-2) played about as even of a statistical match as possible, with shots on goal 5-4 in MU's favor and penalty corners 6-5 in favor of the visitors. The lone difference was Michielsen's goal – which came on a penalty corner. She maneuvered around an oncoming defender to slam the ball into the cage for her second collegiate marker. Senior Chloe Prettyman had the assist.
 
Redshirt-sophomore goalkeeper Emma Albee, named the PSAC Defensive Athlete of the Week earlier in the day, made five saves to record her third shutout in the last four games. Albee has now turned aside 23 of the last 24 shots she has faced over her last five appearances.  
 
The Marauders had multiple chances to even the score in the second half, with their best being a penalty stroke awarded with just less than eight minutes to play. MU entered Gianna Cugino off the bench to attempt the stroke, but her shot sailed high and left of the frame.
 
It was familiar territory for Albee, who came off the bench last season on multiple occasions to face penalty strokes and was also used in the 1v1 shootout session in the win over Belmont Abbey. Opponents are now 1-for-3 against Albee on strokes in her career.
 
Caitlin Wasserman delivered a brilliant defensive save for the Marauders to keep the Raiders out of the net on a second-half penalty corner. Kerstin Koons, ever steady in goal for the Marauders, made two saves. In five career matchups with Shippensburg, Koons has recorded 37 saves and allowed just seven goals.
 
SU snapped a two-game losing streak to Millersville; the Marauders defeated the Raiders 2-1 in the semifinals of last year's PSAC Tournament and also had a 4-1 victory during the regular season.
 
Shippensburg will host Frostburg State at 1 p.m. Saturday at Robb Sports Complex. The Bobcats will officially join the PSAC next season as an associate member for the sport of field hockey.