MILLERSVILLE, Pa. – The IUP field hockey team opened up Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference play with a 3-1 loss at fourth-ranked Millersville on Saturday afternoon.

With the loss the Crimson Hawks fall to 4-3 overall and 0-1 in conference play while the Marauders improved to 6-1 overall behind a 1-0 mark in PSAC competition.

IUP battled Millersville to a scoreless first half despite being outshot 5-0 in the first 35 minutes. Goalie Alyssa Lerda (Wexford, Pa./Pine-Richland) made two of her four saves, including a penalty corner, in the first half. At the 24:28-mark, the Crimson Hawks had their best scoring chance as Amber Bailey (Palmyra, Pa./Palmyra) attempted a penalty corner just 10 seconds after Lerda made a save at the other end of the field.

In the second half IUP nearly scored first a shot from Bailey went wide in the 43rd minute. Millersville then scored the game's first goal as Aliza Mizak was able to find the back of the cage in the 47th minute. The Marauders extended the lead just three minutes later as Courtney Weaver scored at the 50:18-mark. Maci Langone extended the Millersville lead to 3-0 with her tally in the 55th minute. IUP answered just four minutes later as Bailey scored her first goal of the season off a loose ball when she put a shot into the top right corner of the cage.

Millersville held a 16-3 edge in shots while also totaling 12 penalty corners to three for IUP.

The Crimson Hawks wrap up their three game road trip with a PSAC contest against Shippensburg on Wednesday, September 28 at 4 p.m.