WEST CHESTER, Pa.-For the first time since the end of the 2004 season the West Chester University men's soccer team (12-2-5) played on PSAC Championship Sunday against rival Millersville (10-3-6). West Chester and Millersville battled through 110 minutes of soccer but it was not enough to decide a victor as the game officially ended in a 1-1 draw. Millersville captured the Championship winning in Penalty Kicks by a 4-2 margin.
Both sides battled throughout the first half, and in doing so generated numerous great scoring opportunities but solid defensive efforts managed to keep the game scoreless for much of the half. Colin Muller (Bethlehem, Pa./Freedom) opened the scoring in the 37th minute battling through tight defense to convert the long ball from Nicholas Meola (Avondale, Pa./Kennett) into a goal to give West Chester the lead heading to the break.
In the 79th minute, Jaxson Burns scored the equalizer for Millersville capitalizing on a ball that was knocked around in the box to make the score 1-1 late in the contest. Both sides had solid opportunities to potentially score the game-winner before time expired but solid defense continued to be the story as the game went to overtime.
In overtime, each side generated its share of chances although neither team managed to break through for the game-winner, thus, ending the game in a 1-1 draw and sending the contest to Penalty Kicks to decide a champion.
In penalty kicks, Kyle Hoops (Phoenixville, Pa./Great Valley) buried the first attempt for West Chester before Chase Flickinger did the same for Millersville. Millersville then capitalized on a great stop by its goalie Darian McCauley as Nathan Maynard buried his attempt to make it 2-1. Daniel Grindrod (Feasterville, Pa./Neshaminy) would not let West Chester go down quietly as he stepped up and buried his attempt to even things at 2-2. Unfortunately, Millersville made its next two attempts and with a West Chester miss the Marauders captured the Championship.
Will Marshall (North Versailles, Pa./East Allegheny) played well for West Chester making four great saves while his counterpart McCauley made three great saves of his own to hold off what was a relentless West Chester attack.
Somewhat fittingly the two sides were separated by just one shot in terms of shots and shots on goal as West Chester took 16 shots compared to 15 for Millersville while the Marauders held a narrow 5-4 advantage in shots on goal. In a rare occurrence for West Chester, the Golden Rams were out cornered by a wide 10-4 margin at the conclusion of the game.
With this afternoon's draw West Chester drops to 9-0-3 in home games and 10-1-2 in games where the Golden Rams score first. West Chester is also now 8-2-1 in games where the Golden Rams score in the first half of play.
Up Next:
West Chester will now await a decision from the selection committee as to where and when the Golden Rams will play again. The selection show is set to air on Monday night at 6 p.m.
