Game Notes
WEST CHESTER, Pa. - West Chester University (17-1-2), fresh off its fourth PSAC championship in the last five years, is the top seed in the Atlantic Region for the sixth straight year and will host Bloomsburg (13-4-3) at noon on Sunday in the second round.
Tickets to the 2010 NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Tournament at South Campus Field Sunday are $7 for adults and $3 for students with valid school ID and senior citizens. Children ages 2-12 are $1, and children under the age of 2-years old will be admitted free with a paying adult. Handicapped parking, by permit only, is available at the soccer field. Other spectators will be directed to Lot Q, adjacent to Farrell Stadium. Team buses will also be directed to Lot Q.
The winner of Sunday’s contest advances to the Atlantic Region final the following weekend, which will be played at the site of the highest remaining seed from the Atlantic Region. The other half of the Atlantic Regional features second-seeded California (Pa.) (18-1-2) facing third-seeded Slippery Rock (Pa.) (12-7-1).
The Atlantic Regional final and Northeast Regional final will both be played on Friday, Nov. 19 at the same site. The two winners move on to the NCAA Quarterfinals on Sunday, Nov. 21 to play for a trip to the Division II national semifinals at the Division II Festival in Louisville, Ky., Dec. 2-4.
West Chester is making its eighth straight appearance in the NCAA Division II Women’s Soccer Tournament, boasting an overall record of 8-6-2.
THE LAST MEETING
West Chester University suffered its lone setback of the year on Sept. 25 at Bloomsburg, falling 2-0 to the Huskies on the road. Huskies midfielder Kelsey Stoka scored a pair of goals to lift Bloomsburg to the upset of then fourth-ranked West Chester, handing the Golden Rams their first and what would turn out to be only loss of the regular-season.
West Chester outshot Bloomsburg by a whopping 21-6 margin, but could not finish its opportunities. The two squads have split their last four outings with each winning two games at home. The Golden Rams split the home-and-home series in 2009 and then beat Bloomsburg in the PSAC Quarterfinals at South Campus Field.
OZZIE’S WORLD
Senior forward Sarah Oswald has authored one of the most prolific college soccer careers in West Chester University history. The diminutive forward ranks third all-time on the school’s scoring charts with 145 points and is third as well on the all-time goal scoring chart with 57. She broke the school’s all-time assist record with her 31 career helpers. Oswald was named the PSAC player of the year this fall.
All-Time Scoring Leaders
Pl. Pts Name (G-A) Years
1. 161 Heather Allgyer (66-29) 1996-99
2. 150 Julie Karcher (66-18) 2003-06
3. 145 Sarah Oswald (57-31) 2007-10
All-Time Goal Scoring Leaders
Pl. Goals Name Years
1. 66 Heather Allgyer 1996-99
2. 66 Julie Karcher 2003-06
3. 57 Sarah Oswald 2007-10
BERNARDINI’S MAGIC ACT IN PSAC’s
Sophomore goalkeeper Lyndsie Bernardini came up big when West Chester needed her most in the 2010 PSAC Tournament. Her two miraculous saves (one in regulation, the other in overtime) in the championship game against Cal, coupled with a pair of victories in a penalty-kick shootout in both the semifinals and finals, earned the second-year starter Tournament MVP honors.
The win marked the second straight year in which West Chester has won a conference crown with Bernardini manning the goal.
ALL-LEAGUE PLAUDITS
West Chester University senior forward Sarah Oswald was named the player of the year for women’s soccer in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) it was announced by the league office Wednesday morning.
West Chester was well represented with six players receiving all-league accolades. Five of those players were first team honorees.
Oswald is the second Golden Ram in the last three seasons, and the third in the last five, to earn athlete of the year honors. Former teammate Lauren Boyer was the East Division player of the year in 2008, and former Golden Rams standout Casey McKinney was honored as the East player of the year in 2006.
Joining Oswald on the all-league squad from the Golden Rams were first team repeat honorees: Jessica Bennett, Lyndsie Bernardini, Tara Malkiewicz and Cindi Nickles, and third team pick Lara Bodenstab.
First Team
F - Sarah Oswald (2007-10)
M - Jessica Bennett (2009-10)
D - Cindi Nickles (2009-10)
D - Tara Malkiewicz (2009-10)
GK - Lyndsie Bernardini (2009-10)
Third Team
M - Lara Bodenstab (2010)
DONUTS AT HOME
The Golden Rams defense has picked up right where it left off from a year ago when it comes to defending its home turf. West Chester University has allowed just two goals in 12 home games this fall. In fact, only Slippery Rock has scored on the Golden Rams at South Campuf Field. The Rock played to a 2-2 tie in the PSAC semifinals, eventually losing on penalty kicks to decide the match.
West Chester is 22-1-2 at home over the past two years and has allowed just five goals in those 25 contests. The Golden Rams bring a 25-game unbeaten streak at home into Sunday’s NCAA second-round tilt. West Chester last fell in front of its home fans in the NCAA Tournament a year ago against Indiana (Pa.).
OZZIE'S SCORING SPREE
Senior forward Sarah Oswald closed the 2010 regular season on a seven-game goal scoring streak in which she registered a goal in each contest. Over that span, Oswald posted nine goals, three assists and 21 points – half of her season total of 41. The player of the year was held without a single point in a game just three times during the regular season.
The playoffs have proven to be a bit harder for the two-time All-American. Oswald posted one assist in the PSAC Tournament (vs. Slippery Rock). However, she did convert both of her penalty kick opportunities over the weekend in the semifinals and finals, respectively. Goals scored in a penalty-kick shootout do not count toward’s a player’s season stats.
STABILITY IN THE PROGRAM
West Chester University’s senior class will graduate as one of the most successful at the school in the 19-year history of the program. The Golden Rams are 67-7-10 over the past four years with four regular-season championships and three conference tournament championships to brag about.
However, there is something else a bit unique about this group in 2010. Of West Chester’s 16 graduating classes that had four years of varsity women’s soccer, this year’s group is just the third that will have played for the same head coach all four years in school.
Current men’s head coach Kendall Walkes started the women’s program in 1992 and coached the team for the first five years. His seniors in 1995 and 1996 are the only other two senior classes to have played for the same head coach their entire college careers.
SENIOR LEADERSHIP
A trio of seniors on the West Chester University roster are the only three to have appeared in every NCAA Tournament game in which the Golden Rams have participated since 2007. Sarah Oswald, Jessica Bennett and Cindi Nickles will all be making their seventh NCAA Tournament game appearance on Sunday afternoon.
The 11 projected starters for the Golden Rams on Sunday have a combined total of 31 NCAA Tournament appearances under their belts.
Senior transfer Devon Swaim appeared in four NCAA Division I Tournament games for University of Tennessee. She played in three contests her freshman year, helping the Vols reach the Sweet 16 in 2006.
