Box Score WEST CHESTER, Pa. –
Marnie Kusakavitch (Pittston, Pa./Holy Redeemer) and
Dayle Paustian (Martinsville, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan) each scored twice to lead fourth-ranked West Chester University to a 5-2 home win over visiting second-ranked Shippensburg at Vonnie Gros Field Tuesday afternoon.
West Chester (7-2, 1-2 PSAC) avoided its first three-game losing streak since re-classifying to Division II while picking up its first conference win in the process. Shippensburg (7-2, 2-1 PSAC) dropped its first conference tilt. Both of the Raiders' losses this fall have been at the hands of West Chester. It marked the most goals that Shippensburg has allowed in a game since Sept 29, 2009 – a span of 125 games.
Shippensburg scored the game's first goal in the ninth minute when Kendall Beck beat West Chester goalkeeper
Brianna Magner (Egg Harbor Twp., N.J./Egg Harbor Twp.), who was making her first college start. However, the sophomore blanked the visitors for the next 43 minutes while her teammates built an insurmountable 4-1 advantage late into the contest.
The Golden Rams responded to the Raiders' opening tally with four straight markers of their own with three of the four coming off of penalty corners. Paustian tied up the contest in the 17th minute off an assist from
Mary Spisak (Boiling Springs, Pa./Boiling Springs) – the first of three helpers on the day from the sophomore central midfielder.
Almost three minutes later, senior
Kristina Scherrer (Enola, Pa./Cumberland Valley) rocketed a shot past Shippensburg starting goalie Taylor Webster off a corner to give West Chester a 2-1 lead that it would not relinquish. Just under six minutes later, Kusakavitch found space in the circle and banged a shot home in the 25th minute to double the hosts' lead and chase Webster.
Paustian notched her second of the day in the 35th minute, finishing off a corner set-play.
Alayna Brown (Telford, Pa./Souderton) (two assists on the day) and Spisak were credited with assists.
After Beck's second tally of the afternoon cut the deficit to two (4-2) with 18 minutes left, Kusakavitch added some insurance in the 59th minute.
Magner made five saves, picking up the win in her first collegiate start. Scherrer was credited with three defensive saves to go along with her one goal on the afternoon.
West Chester hosts Indiana (Pa.) on Saturday at 1 p.m., before playing host to Limestone on Sunday at noon in a non-conference battle.
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