Box Score
WEST CHESTER, Pa. – Tori Dugan scored five goals and posted seven points while also controlling the faceoff circle with seven draw controls as second-ranked West Chester University eased past visiting Gannon University, 17-5, at sun-splashed Vonnie Gros Field Friday afternoon.
West Chester (7-0, 4-0 PSAC) remains in first place with the win over Gannon (6-2, 3-1 PSAC), who entered the contest with a share of first place.
The Golden Rams absolutely dominated the time of possession while building an 11-1 lead in the first half thanks solely to a 12-1 advantage in draw controls. Dugan and Gannon all-leaguer Jess Fugate entered the contest tied for sixth nationally in draw controls per game (6.0). But, Fugate was ineffective against the taller and stronger Dugan, who had collected six of her game-high seven draw controls in the first 30 minutes.
West Chester also bottled up Fugate in the offensive zone, limiting the Golden Knights’ top player to just three shots, only one of which was on target, in the contest. The Golden Rams defense, which ranked sixth in the country in defense, held Gannon to five goals on just 17 shots. The Knights’ saw their five-game win streak come to a close – a streak that saw them reach double figures in goals scored in each game.
Meanwhile, West Chester’s All-American, Dugan, registered a natural hat trick in the first half when she scored three consecutive goals 1:16 apart. She had a hand in five straight Golden Rams goals as she posted an assist on the team’s goal preceding her three-goal run and a another assist on the goal after her little spurt. By the, the hosts had opened up a 10-1 lead.
Gannon settled down and won the draw control battle in the second half, but it was too late for the Knights to mount any kind of a comeback. Gannon was only outscored, 6-4, after halftime thanks in part to winning more draw controls and gaining more time of possession. However, West Chester capitalized on its lone extra-man opportunity and buried both of its free position attempts in the final 30 minutes to keep the Golden Knights in check.
Lauren Glassey finished with four points in the game. She had a hand in all four of West Chester’s goals to open the contest. She assisted on tallies by Jamie Dolan and Dugan, before scoring back-to-back markers on free positions. Hannah Cowan recorded a pair of goals to open the second half for the Rams while Dolan and Sarah Dennison each scored twice as well.
Jordan Heidelbaugh, Theresa Giunta and Nicole Pyle each scored as well.
Jess Henderson (7-0) made four saves in 55 minutes of action in the cage. Kelsey Sward came on and played the final five minutes, notching three saves.
West Chester entertains No. 14 Mercyhurst (9-1, 4-0) on Saturday in another battle for first place. The Lakers topped Kutztown on Friday. It will be the second nationally ranked opponent the Golden Rams have faced this season.
