Box Score
WEST CHESTER, Pa. - Rachal Toppi (Glassboro, N.J./Glassboro) and
Marnie Kusakavitch (Pittston, Pa./Holy Redeemer) each scored a goal and registered an assist to lead seventh-ranked West Chester to a 4-1 victory over visiting 10th-ranked Indiana (Pa.) in a PSAC Quarterfinal round field hockey match at Vonnie Gros Field Tuesday afternoon.
West Chester (13-6) advances to the semifinals of the PSAC Tournament with the win and will play second-ranked and second-seeded Shippensburg at 12 p.m. Friday afternoon at East Stroudsburg. The Warriors, the regular-season champions, host the conference semifinals and finals on Friday and Sunday. ESU will play Millersville in the other semifinal immediately following the West Chester-Shippensburg contest.
The Golden Rams got a lift from a pair of freshmen early on as
Caitlin Kelly (Coatesville, Pa./Bishop Shanahan) and
Katie Thompson (Washington, N.J./Warren Hills) scored the game's first two goals in the first half. The usual suspects each tallied in the second half as West Chester ran out to a 4-0 lead.
Kusakavitch scored two minutes into the second half, tipping a shot from
Kaitlin Hatch (Sewell, N.J./Washington Twp.) past IUP's goalkeeper, Alyssa Lerda. Toppi then slapped in a rebound of a shot off Kusakavitch's stick that was kick-saved by Lerda almost 90 seconds later.
The Crimson Hawks (10-8) ruined WCU goalkeeper Sarah Krause's shutout bid in the 55th minute with a goal from Bryn Nelson. Krause did not make a save in the win as the Golden Rams limited the Crimson Hawks to just two shots - one on goal - in the game.
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