Box Score
WEST CHESTER, Pa. – West Chester’s senior class stepped up on Senior Day Saturday afternoon as the Golden Rams remained unbeaten with a 14-3 decision over visiting Millersville in a PSAC East women’s lacrosse match at Vonnie Gros Field.
West Chester (9-0, 5-0 PSAC East) finished its first round through league play with an unblemished mark as the Golden Rams continue their dominance in the Eastern Division. Millersville (2-6, 1-4 PSAC East) has now lost six of seven since opening the season with a victory over Shepherd.
Senior Gabrielle Stitz led all scorers with four tallies while classmate Nicole Haines posted five points (3 goals, 2 assists). Fellow seniors Katy Crouse and Lauren Tatios were each instrumental defensively, limiting Millersville to just 10 shots. Crouse picked up five ground balls and registered three draw controls while Tatios caused a game-high seven turnovers, marking the Marauders’ top offensive threat in Liz Weekley.
The Golden Rams controlled the tempo from the opening faceoff and jumped out to a 6-0 lead before the Marauders finally got on the board with 10 minutes remaining in the half. Junior Shannon Hayes played a role in four of West Chester’s first five markers, scoring unassisted twice and assisting on two others. Stitz fueled the early run with three of her four goals on the afternoon.
At the other end of the field, Tatios forced Weekley into four turnovers and three frustration fouls, taking the Marauders’ main goal-scorer out of the mix.
West Chester took the wind out of Millersville’s sails with three goals in the first four minutes of the second half to run the hosts’ lead to 11-1. Alyssa Gallen finished off a hat trick on the day with two of the three tallies while Nicole Haines potted the other off a feed from Erin Oczkowski.
Back-to-back Millersville goals from Weekley and Ashley Henderson cut the deficit to 11-3. However, the Golden Rams kept the Marauders off the scoreboard the rest of the way.
MacKenzie O’Keefe (6-0) remained perfect in the cage for West Chester. She made three saves on the afternoon. Her counterpart, Courtney Haggerty, played very well in net for Millersville, recording 13 saves, including one lunging save to the far post that robbed West Chester of another potential goal.
West Chester travels to Kutztown on Tuesday for another PSAC East battle. Faceoff is set for 4 p.m.
