Nov. 3, 2006

Final Stats

Lock Haven, Pa. - The Rock's bid for its first Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championship since 1993 was thwarted by a 3-0 loss to hosting Lock Haven in semifinal action of the conference tournament on the winners' home court.

Lock Haven rolled to a 30-13 win in Game 1 before The Rock made things interesting, only to fall by 30-21 and 30-23 scores.

The loss gives SRU a 30-8 record as it awaits word on its bid for a second successive NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional tournament berth.

Regional pairings will be announced late Sunday night.

The Rock is currently ranked third in the regional poll behind California U. of Pa. and Lock Haven.

California (28-5) and Lock Haven (28-5) will meet at 5 p.m. Saturday in the conference championship match. The winner of that match earns the PSAC's automatic berth in the regional tournament.

The Rock and Lock Haven battled to a 5-5 tie early in Game 1 of Friday's match before the Bald Eagles scored eight straight points and 12 of the next 14 points to take a 17-7 lead. Lock Haven closed out Game 1 by scoring the final six points of the game.

SRU jumped out to a 7-1 lead in Game 2 before Lock Haven scored nine of the next 11 points to take a 10-9 lead.

The Rock tied the score at 10-10 and 12-12 and took a 14-13 lead, only to see the hosts scored five straight points for an 18-14 lead.

SRU scored the gap to 18-16 and 20-18, but was never able to regain the lead in the second game.

Lock Haven took a 6-0 lead in Game 3 and held a 15-6 lead before SRU roared back to score six straight points to close the gap to three, 15-12. The hosts then scored four straight points for a 19-12 lead, only to see The Rock respond with a run of its own.

SRU closed the gap to 25-22 and 26-23 before Lock Haven closed out the match with four straight points.

Friday's loss was the third 3-0 setback sustained by The Rock in head-to-head matchups with Lock Haven this fall.