Box Score
WEST CHESTER, Pa. – Sarah Oswald scored a goal and added an assist as No. 9 West Chester University shut out visiting Bloomsburg, 2-0, on an overcast and chilly Wednesday evening in a pivotal PSAC Eastern Division women’s soccer match at South Campus Field.
West Chester (8-1-1, 6-1 PSAC East) avenged its lone loss of the season, running its unbeaten streak to eight games in the process. Bloomsburg (3-5-2, 3-3-1) has now lost four of its last six, going 1-4-1 over that span.
Oswald opened the scoring in the 51st minute when she tried to center a pass along the end line and the ball hit Bloomsburg goalkeeper Frances Nicoletti and deflected into the goal. Tara Malkiewicz then headed in a corner kick from Oswald with nine minutes remaining in the contest for an insurance tally.
Lyndsie Bernardini was called upon to make three saves in recording her sixth shutout of the season and improving to 8-1-1 on the year. She has now gone 413 minutes consecutively without allowing a goal. The freshman keeper is undefeated at home (7-0-0) without being scored upon in any of the games played at South Campus Field.
Nicoletti made 11 saves in the loss. West Chester outshot Bloomsburg, 22-4, in the contest.
With the win, West Chester strengthened its hold on first place in the league standings, bumping its point total up to 18 on the year. Kutztown is in second place with 13 points entering Wednesday’s game at Mansfield.
West Chester travels to Mansfield on Saturday for another PSAC battle with the Mountaineers.
