Box Score
WEST CHESTER, Pa. – Heather Manorek scored two first-half goals to stake host West Chester University to an early lead, and the Golden Rams allowed just one shot the rest of the way as the 17th-ranked women’s soccer squad cruised to a 4-0 blanking of visiting Dominican in a non-conference season opener for both schools Friday afternoon.
“I thought we came out a little nervous,” third-year head coach Betty Ann Kempf Townsley said afterwards. “But, that first goal so early in the game really helped to calm us down.”
Manorek banged the first shot of the game past Dominican goalkeeper Valentina Sturchio just 1:25 into the contest to put the hosts on top early. A long-ball played ahead by Tara Malkiewicz set up Manorek’s initial tally.
Manorek then finished off a cross from teammate Sarah Oswald 22 minutes later to double the Rams’ lead. Oswald’s cross was mishandled by Sturchio, and Manorek was there to knock home the loose ball.
Eleven minutes later, freshman Jen Gangl scored her first college goal off an assist from Jessica Bennett, who sent Gangl in on Sturchio one-on-one. Bennett then closed out the scoring in the second half when she converted a penalty kick in the 51st minute. She finished the day with one goal and one assist.
West Chester outshot Dominican 25-1, not allowing a shot in the entire second half.
“I didn’t think we did that great of a job controlling the midfield in the first half,” Kempf Townsley commented. “But, we made some changes and received great leadership from Bennett in the second half that helped change things.”
Sturchio finished with 10 saves in the contest for the Chargers. West Chester freshman keeper Lyndsie Bernardini went the distance in net for the Golden Rams, making one save to earn the shutout in her first college game.
West Chester returns to action on Wednesday when the Rams travel to Bloomsburg for a pivotal PSAC East showdown. Both West Chester and Bloomsburg were picked in a tie for first place in the preseason coaches’ poll. The Huskies were among others receiving votes in the NSCAA preseason national poll.
