Toppi Gets Hat Trick; WCU Cruises Past Lindenwood In Opener

Box Score

WEST CHESTER, Pa. – Sophomore Rachal Toppi (Glassboro, N.J./Glassboro) picked up where she left off a year ago and her 22-goal freshman campaign, scoring a hat-trick to lift the host Golden Rams over Lindenwood (Mo.), 8-2, at Vonnie Gros Field Friday afternoon.
 
The Golden Rams (1-0) survived a 45-minute delay on account of lightning and came out scoring in the first half with four of the team's eight goals. Lindenwood's (1-1) defense could not contain West Chester's offense, allowing a combined 23 total shots – 18 of them on goal.
 
It marked the Golden Rams' first time on its brand new, state-of-art, Hockey Gold FieldTurf that was installed this past summer.
 
Toppi scored three goals, one on a penalty stroke, and teammate Marnie Kusakavitch (Pittston, Pa./Holy Redeemer) scored back-to-back goals in a span 52 seconds to put the Golden Rams up 4-1 at the half. Kusakavitch scored her second goal in the 47th minute of the second half to stretch the Rams' lead.
 
Senior back Alexis Versak (Limerick, Pa./Spring-Ford) opened up the scoring on a pass from Kristina Scherrer (Enola, Pa./Cumberland Valley) in the first six minutes of the game. Midfielders Dayle Paustian (Martinsville, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan) and Mary Spisak (Boiling Springs, Pa./Boiling Springs) each contributed to the scoring with one goal apiece.
 
The Lions' Virginia Leyssons and Greta Banholzer each scored their first goal of the season in the loss.
 
West Chester returns to Vonnie Gros Field Sunday to take on Stonehill College at noon, before opening conference play at Shippensburg on Sept. 9 at 3 p.m.