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WEST CHESTER, Pa. – West Chester University will be the host site for the 2012 PSAC Field Hockey Championships this weekend at Vonnie Gros Field. The semifinals kick things off on Friday, Oct. 26 with games at 3:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. The 33rd PSAC Championship Game will take place Saturday at 5 p.m.
West Chester (15-2), the second-ranked team in the country and the PSAC Eastern Division regular-season champion, will take on Indiana (Pa.) (14-4) at 6 p.m. in the second game. The first semifinal will pit the nation’s No. 1 team in the country, Shippensburg (17-1), against Millersville (13-6) at 3:30 p.m.
“We are really excited to be playing the tournament on our home turf,” senior midfielder Michele Schrift said. “We are looking forward to IUP Friday. It certainly wasn’t an easy game the first time we played them.”
The Golden Rams bring a five-game winning streak into the postseason and have allowed just one goal over that span while outscoring the opposition 19-1. This is the second straight year that West Chester has qualified for the PSAC Tournament. However, it is the first time that the Rams have reached the semifinals. Last fall, WCU fell in overtime to LIU Post in the quarterfinals. This year, West Chester received a bye into the semifinals as a result of winning its division.
“Everybody is on the same page this time of year,” senior forward Kayla Gluchowski said. “Our forwards have been getting a lot of field goals off of the play from our midfield, and the defense is playing just great right now. So, I think everybody from the back up is playing really well.”
West Chester defeated IUP, 3-2, at Vonnie Gros Field on Sept. 14. The Golden Rams jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first 17 minutes. But, the Crimson Hawks fought back to tie the game with four minutes remaining. A goal from Alexis Versak, one minute after IUP had knotted things up, gave the hosts the 3-2 win.
“I think we are playing as a full unit,” head coach Amy Cohen commented. “At times this year, we have played well offensively, or played well defensively. But, I think we are putting it all together right now.
“We weren’t here last year, and that is in the forefront of our players’ minds. Being able to win that PSAC title and earn a possible first-round bye in the NCAA Tournament has been this team’s goal from the first practice of the year.
“IUP is another strong PSAC opponent. They played us well here earlier in the year. So, I’m sure they are going to be excited to get another shot at us. I’m sure it is going to be just another typical hard-nosed PSAC matchup Friday night.”
