2009 PSAC Women's Lacrosse Tournament Bracket
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. - Sixth-ranked and five-time defending conference champion West Chester University opens defense of its women's lacrosse title Friday afternoon at Charlotte Smith Field on the campus of Lock Haven University with a semifinal matchup against league newcomer and fifth-ranked Mercyhurst College at 4 p.m.
The second of two semifinal games Friday, West Chester (13-2) and Mercyhurst (13-2) is a rematch of a regular-season contest on March 28 in Erie, Pa., that was won by the Lakers, 11-9, ending the Golden Rams' 26-game winning streak that dated back to last season. The first semifinal pits host No. 4 Lock Haven (13-3) against Bloomsburg (12-5) at 1 p.m.
The two semifinal winners advance to the 2009 PSAC Women's Lacrosse Championship Game on Saturday, April 25 at 4 p.m. at Lock Haven's Charlotte Smith Field.
West Chester has not lost a PSAC Tournament game since dropping the championship contest to Bloomsburg in 2003. The Golden Rams are also undefeated in the semifinals of the tournament (5-0) since the conference expanded the field to four teams in 2004.
West Chester is 18-1 in the PSAC Tournament since 1994 with the 2003 title-game loss serving as its lone defeat over the last 14 years. The Golden Rams' senior class has won the conference championship in each of its previous three seasons and owns a perfect 6-0 record in the postseason playoff.
Despite the PSAC adding two more schools to the fold this spring (Mercyhurst, Gannon), West Chester and Lock Haven, the perennial powers in the loop, each won their respective divisions as the league split into East and West for the first time. The Golden Rams and Bald Eagles have met to decide the conference crown in each of the past three seasons with West Chester coming out on top each time. Both are the favorites to clash once again for PSAC supremecy on Saturday.
Senior attacker Jackie Baker is coming off an eight-goal game in the Rams' season finale at Kutztown on Wednesday. Baker is sixth overall in the league in scoring with 65 points and second in assists. She leads a potent West Chester offense that is second in the conference in scoring overall.
Baker's eight goals against Kutztown gives her 250 tallies in her illustrious career moving her into second place all-time in NCAA Division II history behind former teammate Katelyn Martin's 299 career goals between 2003-06. The top three all-time scoring spots in Division II history are now occupied by West Chester athletes.
Senior center-midfielder Courtney Whiting leads West Chester in goals scored with 45 this season. She has been the catalyst for the Golden Rams dominating in draw controls this spring and winning the majority of possessions for the Rams.
