Box Score
WEST CHESTER, Pa. – Jen Hutchinson scored twice and Sarah Oswald assisted on three of four goals as fifth-ranked West Chester University scored four unanswered tallies to down visiting Indiana (Pa.), 4-1, and advance to the PSAC Women’s Soccer Championship Game on windy and brisk Friday morning at South Campus Field.
West Chester (18-1-1) increased its win streak to 12 while upping its unbeaten string to 18 straight with a smothering second half performance against IUP (13-6-1). The Golden Rams advance to the conference championship game for the third time in the last four years and will take on Eastern Division rival Kutztown (15-4-2), who was a 1-0 winner over California (Pa.) (16-5-1) in the other semifinal.
IUP managed to jump on top first with a goal from local product Allison Keller in the 15th minute. Keller, an Exton, Pa., native put one in the far corner past the Rams’ freshman goalkeeper Lyndsie Bernardini, ending West Chester’s consecutive scoreless string at 1,238 minutes – a stretch that spanned 15 games, dating back to Sept. 16.
However, the hosts and top seed in the conference tournament, battled back with a beautiful header from Tara Malkiewicz off a corner kick in the 18th minute. That was the first of two Rams’ goals off set plays on corners.
“I think we played with a lot more intensity after their goal,” West Chester head coach Betty Ann Kempf Townsley stated afterwards. “I think that pumped us up.”
Oswald found freshman forward Melissa McKeary all alone in the box in the 25th minute. She beat IUP keeper Kelly Brennan to put West Chester on top for good, 2-1. That is the way the first half ended.
West Chester dominated play in the second half, wearing down IUP’s defense and punching in two insurance tallies, breaking the Hawks’ spirits. The Golden Rams held a 6-0 advantage in corner kicks over the final 45 minutes and a 14-3 shot advantage.
Hutchinson netted both of her goals in the last 30 minutes of play. She headed a corner from Oswald toward the IUP goal that was headed right back to her by a Hawks defender. Hutchinson jumped in the air again and this time headed the ball past a diving Brennan to put the Rams up, 3-1.
Hutchinson then finished off a corner kick from Oswald in the 62nd minute to close out the scoring on the day.
“The more we kept the ball moving, it made it much more difficult for them to defend,” Kempf Townsley added. “Our strength is on the outside of the field, and that is where we tried to attack them.
Bernardini improved to 18-1-1 on the year, making just one save and allowing one goal. Brennan played 85 minutes, making seven saves for IUP, before being relieved by Kelsey Dowling in the final five minutes.
NOTES: West Chester is making its fourth appearance in the PSAC Championship Game … the Golden Rams are 2-1 in the title game, winning back-to-back crowns in 2006 and 2007 … West Chester is unbeaten in its last 10 contests with Kutztown (9-0-1), dating back to 2005 … Sarah Oswald picked up her 100th career point with an assist on West Chester’s first goal of the game … she becomes just the third player in WCU history to amass 100 points in a career … IUP’s goal in the first half was just the third goal WCU has surrendered all year.
