Box Score
WEST CHESTER, Pa. - No. 13 Penn State scored one minute into the second half and controlled play the rest of the way to escape West Chester with a 3-2 victory over the upset-minded Golden Rams in a non-league field hockey match on Sunday afternoon.
Penn State (4-3) got an unassisted tally from Amy Bonenberger 52 seconds into the second frame to break a 2-2 halftime tie with West Chester (3-5). The host Golden Rams saw their losing streak hit four straight despite pushing the Nittany Lions to the limit.
Freshman Brittany Cislak continued her impressive season up front with a goal at the 8:32 mark that put West Chester in front 1-0 early. Penn State's Daneen Zug tied it 79 seconds later off a penalty corner, and Jessica Longstreth took a 15-yard feed from Bonenberger, broke in alone on WCU goalkeeper, Joelle Zarefoss, maneuvered around the keeper and buried the ball into an empty net to put PSU up 2-1 three minutes after tying the affair.
The scrappy Golden Rams fought back when Alyssa Gallen scored her first career goal off a rebound of a penalty corner to even things up once again in the 23rd minute. Desiree Walker fired a shot that Penn State goalkeeper Jen Beaumont kicked aside. However, the rebound went right to Gallen, waiting on the far post, and she slapped the ball into the open corner of the cage.
The loss marked the 21st straight defeat at the hands of Penn State, dating back to the 1987 season. The Nittany Lions now lead the overall series 29-14-2. It also marked the first time in 11 years that West Chester scored a goal on Penn State and the first time in 22 games that West Chester scored twice in the same game.
Zarefoss was credited with 10 saves as the Rams were outshot, 26-4. Beaumont made two saves for Penn State. West Chester also came up with three defensive saves. Donna Doubet recorded two of them off of penalty corner opportunities by Penn State. Walker notched the other when Longstreth out-maneuvered Zarefoss again and fired a shot at an open net. Walker laid her stick on the ground at the goal mouth and then cleared the ball out of danger.
West Chester takes on Division III powerhouse Ursinus on Sunday, Sept. 28 in the annual Eleanor Snell Cup. The Golden Rams will also dedicate its multi-purpose turf field in honor of legendary former head coach Vonnie Gros in a brief pre-game ceremony.
