Box Score
WEST CHESTER, Pa. – Sarah Oswald scored a goal and assisted on the other to lead No. 8 West Chester to a 2-0 victory over No. 14 Kutztown in a PSAC East Division women’s soccer showdown at South Campus on a comfortable Tuesday afternoon.
West Chester (13-1-1, 10-1 PSAC East) clinched the team’s fifth straight Eastern Division crown with the win over Kutztown (11-3-2, 6-2-1). The shutout was the Rams’ ninth straight and 13th this season.
“Every year, we have seemed to come together towards the end of the season,” senior midfielder Sam Paolino said. “This season, we came together a lot earlier and made us stronger as a team. We lost a lot of great players from last year. But, there aren’t any individuals on this team. We are one whole team working together.”
Oswald scored her team-leading seventh goal of the year on a direct kick from 25 yards out that hit the far right post and ricocheted across the goal mouth and tucked just inside the opposite left post in the 33rd minute. Eight minutes later, Oswald sailed a corner kick over the defense to the far post where Jen Hutchinson headed in her fifth goal of the year.
“(Oswald) is learning to play with other players and that takes some of the pressure off of her,” explained West Chester head coach Betty Ann Kempf Townsley. “We don’t rely on just one person, we rely on the entire team.”
West Chester has ridden a tremendous defensive effort this season to their fifth straight regular-season championship. Despite key losses, especially in the back, the Golden Rams have allowed just two goals all year long.
“I’m proud of this (team). We lost some key players. But, we have some solid leadership on this team. Jess Bennett has been someone that the rest of the team can rally around.
“I think we haven’t even touched our potential. I think our best soccer is still ahead of us. I think that is what keeps this team going.”
Freshman goalkeeper Lyndsie Bernardini added to her school record for shutouts in a single season. She notched her 12th shutout of the year and ninth consecutive. Her string of consecutive scoreless minutes rose to 863. Bernardini made just one save in the win Tuesday that clinched the division title.
“As a defense, we try to clear every ball out. We don’t want to give up another goal,” said Paolino. “Lyndsie just got another record. We are all really proud of her.”
West Chester returns home Friday evening for a non-conference tilt against Holy Family. It will be senior night in Farrell Stadium where the final two links remaining to the 2006 national semifinal squad, Paolino and Heather Manorek, will be honored before the game.
