Box Score
WEST CHESTER, Pa. - West Chester University scored three goals in the game's final seven minutes to come from behind and beat seventh-ranked C.W. Post, 6-4, on a chilly Tuesday afternoon at Vonnie Gros Field.
West Chester (10-3, 5-2 PSAC East) watched a three-goal lead evaporate over a five-minute span that bridged overtime. However, the Golden Rams were able to regroup against C.W. Post (8-5, 3-4) in a battle with second place on the line.
Nicole Fiorilla scored twice, Carly Buckwalter added a goal and an assist and Leah Angstadt assisted on a pair of goals. However, it was Sr., B Karly Herb's defensive save in the 66th minute that provided perhaps the turning point in the match.
With the Golden Rams clinging vicariously to a 5-4 advantage, Pioneers forward Lyn-Marie Wilson waltzed in all alone on West Chester goalkeeper Kristin Arnold for the fourth time in the second half and tucked the ball under Arnold's outstretched arm. Herb, sprinting back, laid her stick down just before the ball crossed over the goal line and into the cage, preserving the Rams' one-goal margin for the time being.
That defensive save ignited the spark necessary to carry West Chester the rest of the way home. Buckwalter's second goal of the season gave the hosts a nice cushion towards the end.
Fiorilla opened the scoring in the sixth minute with an unassisted tally from along the baseline that rolled all the way along the goal line, eventually crawling over before hitting the far side board of the cage. That preceeded two more goals by the Golden Rams, who jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first 25 minutes of the game.
Kelsi Lykens' reverse chip in the 23rd minute doubled WCU's lead while Kayla Gluchowski banged home a pass from Buckwalter 1:32 later. However, with 1:15 showing on the clock before halftime, C.W. Post made its run.
Carlee Dragon, the nation's leading goal scorer, converted a penalty stroke that put the Pioneers on the board heading into the break.
Bethany Semlear and Paige Albano than tallied 59 seconds apart three minutes into the second half to knot things up at 3-all. Dragon's second goal of the game and 17th of the season was the finisher on a two-on-one break with teammate Lyn-Marie Wilson in the 47th minute. That gave the Pioneers their first lead of the game.
However, Brynn Adams tipped home a pass from Leah Angstadt off a penalty corner in the 63rd minute to bring the Rams even at four. Fiorilla's team-leading 12th marker of the season followed 35 seconds after that. Her first shot was initially saved, but Fiorilla poked the ball into the goal on the rebound.
Herb's defensive save followed three minutes later, and then Buckwalter added the insurance with 36 seconds remaining.
West Chester outshot C.W. Post, 23-16. The Golden Rams controlled much of the first half, just to watch the Pioneers grasp the momentum throughout the beginning of the second half while they mounted their comeback.
Arnold (10-3) made five saves in the cage for West Chester. C.W. Post's Devon Trenkle made 11.
West Chester hosts Millersville on Friday at Vonnie Gros Field at 3 p.m.
