Box Score Box Score
WEST CHESTER, Pa. – Freshman Alexis Versak knocked home a loose ball on the far post with just under three minutes to play, breaking a tie and lifting host West Chester to a 3-2 victory over visiting Indiana (Pa.) Friday afternoon at Vonnie Gros Field.
West Chester (3-1) let an early two-goal lead evaporate when IUP (4-2) knotted things up in the 67th minute. However, Versak cleaned up a loose ball standing on the far post just 75 seconds after IUP had tied the game to take the wind out of the Crimson Hawks’ sails.
IUP’s Brielle Mackey tied the game in a person-up situation with 3:37 remaining. She swatted in a pass from Nicole Bruce on the far post following a scramble in front of the West Chester cage.
The Golden Rams quickly regrouped and charged down the near sideline led by Megan Callanan. Her centering pass to the top of the circle found Stef Pirri’s stick, who then pushed a pass to Versak standing all alone on the post.
The goal capped a wild final 10 minutes to the contest that saw IUP’s bench carded for calling a timeout it didn’t have, then West Chester having a player sent off with a green card just before IUP scored. Three cards and two goals within the final 10 minutes followed a 40-minute stretch in which neither side could muster much momentum.
Kelsi Lykens gave West Chester an early lead in the first minute of the game on a strike following a penalty corner. Michele Schrift then tucked one in the far post in the 18th minute, giving the hosts a 2-0 lead.
IUP stormed back nine minutes later when Anouk Sickman scored to cut the deficit in half. Mackey’s goal in the final four minutes knotted the contest at 2-2.
Kristin Arnold (3-1) made seven saves in the cage for West Chester while Sarah Lemieux (4-2) was credited with 12 saves, including several kick saves on the Rams’ 19 penalty corner opportunities.
West Chester takes on Seton Hill in another PSAC crossover contest Saturday at 1 p.m. at Vonnie Gros Field.
