Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.-The Atlantic Regional title is coming back to West Chester for the second time in four years. The West Chester University women's soccer team (17-3-2) battled a familiar opponent on Friday afternoon in PSAC rival East Stroudsburg University Warriors (15-4-4) in the NCAA Sweet Sixteen. The Golden Rams  went on to win by a final score of 2-0.
In the first half West Chester and East Stroudsburg both had opportunities but thanks to strong play in net from both
McKenna Mullin (Langhorne, Pa./Neshaminy) for West Chester and Jules Harris for East Stroudsburg the score remained tied at 0-0 heading to the half.
In the second half West Chester continued to apply pressure and they saw this pay dividends in the 48
th minute when
Nikki Zaso (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill East) scored after Harris lost the handle following a
Linzi Wolfe (Quakertown, Pa./Quakertown) shot to give West Chester the 1-0 advantage. Wolfe got in on the act as she scored a goal of her own in the 65
th minute when she headed in a cross from PSAC Defensive Player of the Year
Julia Kirkpatrick (Brick, N.J./Brick Twp.) to give West Chester a decisive 2-0 advantage.
Mullin worked hard in net making four crucial saves to keep ESU off the scoreboard, thus, leading West Chester to the victory.
East Stroudsburg outshot West Chester by a 10-9 margin but the Golden Rams did hold a 6-4 advantage in shots on goal. West Chester also held a 5-2 advantage in corner kicks on the afternoon.
This victory also gave West Chester their first Atlantic Regional Title since the end of the 2014 season when they defeated West Virginia Wesleyan inside the friendly confines of Rockwell field by a score of 1-0. This is West Chester's seventh Atlantic regional title in the Division II tournament and this is Coach Betty Ann Kempf Townsley's fifth Atlantic Regional Title.
West Chester will be back in action on Sunday afternoon and they will be facing the winner of the LIU-Post/Mercy game later this afternoon.
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