2009 All-PSAC Women's Soccer Squad
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – Seven West Chester University women’s soccer players were named to the All-PSAC East squad it was announced by the loop on Thursday afternoon. The Golden Rams are coming off a 19-1-1 campaign and will open the 2009 NCAA Division II Women’s Soccer Tournament Sunday afternoon against Indiana (Pa.) at 12 p.m.
Junior forward Sarah Oswald was a first-team All-PSAC East selection for the third time in her career. She highlighted six first-team all-league picks from the Eastern Division champion Golden Rams. Freshman goalkeeper Lyndsie Bernardini was a first-teamer as well as the loop’s rookie of the year. West Chester head coach Betty Ann Kempf Townsley was named the East’s coach of the year.
Joining Oswald and Bernardini on the first team were Jessica Bennett and Sam Paolino in the midfield, and Tara Malkiewicz and Cindi Nickels in the back. All four make their initial appearance on the conference’s first team. Freshman midfielder Jen Hutchinson was a second team pick for the Rams.
Oswald led the team in scoring with 36 points on the strength of a team-high 10 goals and 16 assists. She is third in the country on the Division II level in assists (16) and assists per game (0.76). The three-time first team all-leaguer became just the third Golden Rams player to eclipse 100 career points. She has 104 points during her illustrious college days.
Bernardini ranks second nationally in both goals-against average (0.19) and save percentage (.933). Her 15 shutouts on the year set a new school record while her consecutive shutout string of 1,293 minutes earlier this season is the second-longest all-time at the Division II level. UMass-Lowell keeper Jamie Gillis authored an NCAA-record 1,333 minutes this season as well.
Bennett is the junior captain of the squad, who is the quarterback of the midfield on the pitch. She posted five goals and 12 points for the Golden Rams while anchoring the NCAA’s top defense. Backs Malkiewicz and Nickels were two more big reasons why West Chester has allowed just four goals all year.
Senior Sam Paolino was the final member of the first team. She registered two goals and seven points, starting all 21 games for West Chester.
Jen Hutchinson notched eight goals and 16 points, second on the team in both categories, while fighting injury for much of the campaign. She showed her impact in 17 games, giving West Chester fans a glimpse of what is to come for the next three seasons.
