Pleasant Valley graduate Samantha Merklin was recently named to the United Soccer Coaches Division II All-Atlantic Region Third Team.

The Bloomsburg junior goalkeeper cemented her spot as one of the best goalkeepers in the country, finishing the season with 96 saves in 19 games across 1,710 minutes played.

Merklin recorded a .684 goals against average and a .881 save percentage in net. The goalkeeper picked up her second career All-PSAC East honor and first at Bloomsburg with her first-career first-team nod.

The former Bear played her first two collegiate seasons at Mansfield, where she was an All-PSAC East Second Team goalie in 2023. In those two seasons, she appeared in 29 games (2,587 minutes) with a 1.95 GAA and had 205 total saves.

In high school with PV, she received All-State honors and was the Bears’ Athlete of the Year.