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SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. - West Chester University begins its quest for a national championship Saturday afternoon when the Golden Rams travel to Shippensburg, Pa., to take on Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Division rival Shippensburg University at 12 p.m. at Seth Grove Stadium. It marks the second meeting of the season between the two conference foes with West Chester coming out on top, 37-27, at Seth Grove Stadium back on Oct. 7. This is just the second postseason meeting between West Chester and Shippensburg. The Golden Rams defeated the Red Raiders back in 2004 on the team's journey to the national semifinals under current head coach Bill Zwaan.
TICKET INFO:
Adults = $10 • Seniors = $5  • Students = $5 • Children (5 & under) = $2
No advance ticket sales. Gates will open at 10:30 AM on Saturday.
*NEW* — ALL BAGS WILL BE CHECKED PRIOR TO ENTERING THE STADIUM
SHIPPENSBURG INFORMATION:
REVISED GPS Address: 530 Lancaster Drive, Shippensburg PA, 17257
This marks the 12th overall appearance in the NCAA Division II Tournament and first since 2014. The last first-round victory for the Golden Rams happened in 2014 with a 46-20 win over Slippery Rock at home. The Golden Rams are 9-11 in their previous playoff appearances. West Chester's 12 postseasons are the 11th-most among current NCAA Division II participants.
The winner of Saturday's West Chester-Shippensburg contest will travel to Indiana University of Pa. on Saturday, Nov. 25 for a second-round matchup against the top-seeded IUP Crimson Hawks (11-0), who earned the top seed in the region and the subsequent bye into the second round.
Saturday's game features Shippensburg's top-ranked offense versus West Chester's fourth-ranked defense while Ship's top-ranked defense goes up against WCU's eighth-ranked offense. In the regular-season meeting, both sides racked up over 450 yards of total offense and averaged right around 6.0 yards per play. West Chester's 37 points still stands as the most allowed by Shippensburg's defense in a game this season. Fans should look for another high-scoring affair Saturday between two high-octane offenses.
WCU IN THE POSTSEASON
Since the NCAA began crowning a national champion in Division II in 1973, West Chester University has made its presence known on the national stage. But more importantly, the bulk of that presence has been established within the last two decades as the Golden Rams' gridders have reached postseason play nine times during that span, including five years consecutively, between 2004-08.
West Chester has not qualified for the NCAA II playoffs since 2014. The Golden Rams have reached the national semifinals twice (2004, 2013). The Golden Rams captured their second Super Region 1 championship in 2013 with a 28-7 victory on the road over the region's top-ranked team, Shepherd. The 2013 campaign is considered by many to be the best in the 98-year history of the program that culminated in a school-record 13 wins.
West Chester has reached the NCAA II playoffs 11 times, racking up an overall record of 9-11. West Chester's 11 playoff appearances is tied for the 11th most at the Division II level.
SERIES HISTORY
West Chester University and Shippensburg University meet for the second time this season and the 40th time overall in the storied histories of each program. However, it is just the second time that the two have meet in the postseason. The co-PSAC East champions this fall began playing one another back in 1921, but not until 2008 when re-alignment within the PSAC shifted Shippensburg from the West to the East, did things really heat up between the two schools. The Golden Rams hold a decided 27-11-1 advantage over the Red Raiders and have won each of the past two encounters, including a 37-27 win earlier this year in Shippensburg. West Chester shows a 14-6-1 overall record on the road against Shippensburg. The Golden Rams have won four of the past five meetings and seven out of the last 10 tilts between the two regional powers.
SCOUTING SHIPPENSBURG
No. 19 Shippensburg (10-1) achieved its fifth 10-win season in school history, as this year's squad accompanies those from 1981 (12-1), 1991 (10-3), 2004 (10-2) and 2012 (11-2). The Red Raiders make their sixth NCAA Tournament in school history. SU completed the regular season out-scoring opponents 149-19 in the first quarter and 261-56 in the first half.
Shippensburg landed seven players on the All-PSAC East first team squad. Meanwhile, Winston Eubanks was tabbed Freshman of the Year while being one of three receivers in the league to average more than 100 receiving yards per contest. He is the fourth Red Raider to win the award and first since 2002. Eubanks hauled in 43 passes for 1160 yards and 12 touchdowns. He averaged 105.5 yards per game and a league-high 27 yards per reception. Eubanks turned in six games of 100 yards or more while boasting a season-high 176 against WCU. He had five games with multiple touchdown receptions.
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SU's Mark Maciejewski garnered the Coach of the Year merit. It marked the second time in his career (2012) he earned it and is the sixth time SU has boasted it. Maciejewski's squad posted a 10-1 overall record while going 6-1 in league play. His defense leads the PSAC in points allowed (11.7) while the offense impressed with the third-best output at 38.4 points per contest. Under his direction this season, 10 SU athletes earned all-conference recognition, including seven on the first team. SU's offense is second in yards per game at 466.6. The Red Raiders allowed 14 points or less in all but two contests.
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