Box Score
INDIANA, Pa. – The 18th-ranked West Chester University women’s soccer team used a two-goal comeback in the second half to pull out a critical, 4-3 win over host Indiana (Pa.) in a critical Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) victory on the road Saturday afternoon.
West Chester (8-1-0, 6-1-0 PSAC) avenged its loss in the second round of the NCAA Tournament a year ago while IUP (6-3-1, 4-3-1) fell into a tie for third place in the league standings with Bloomsburg (who tied Mercyhurst) and Edinboro (who defeated Lock Haven). The Golden Rams moved within one point of division-leader California (Pa.) with 18 points. Cal defeated Kutztown in overtime at home to remain unbeaten in conference play.
Sophomore midfielder Jen Hutchinson scored the game-winning goal for West Chester seven minutes into the overtime off a beautiful corner kick from Sarah Oswald. Hutch headed in the game-winner to cap the three-goal spurt after halftime that secured the Golden Rams’ win.
Oswald knotched the only goal of the first half for West Chester. However, IUP beat West Chester goalkeeper Lyndsie Bernardini three times to a take a 3-1 lead at the break. The Crimson Hawks had jumped out to a 2-0 advantage, before Oswalds one-timer cut the deficit in half.
IUP’s Lindsay Lobevero scored the first goal of the game at 17:22. Then, Melissa Kornock added another goal at 18:33. Less than two minutes later, West Chester’s Melissa McKeary served up a nice cross to Oswald, who finished off the dish and put the visitors on the board, 2-1.
IUP was the first to score once again in the second half 10 minutes in. However, seconds later, Devon Swaim scored on a penalty kick, pulling the Rams back to within one (3-2). Swaim then set up freshman midfielder Maddie Mitchell with a header off a corner kick that tied the score, 3-3.
That is the way things stood until the overtime. Bernardini and IUP’s Kelly Brennan each recorded eight saves in the contest.
Women’s soccer will be back in action next Friday home at 1 p.m. against Edinboro.
