No. 9 West Chester Tops No. 23 Lock Haven, 17-7

WEST CHESTER, Pa. – Maggie Stella (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks East) potted five goals, and Sami Barnett (Glenolden, Pa./Interboro) added another four, as No. 9 West Chester blitzed No. 23 Lock Haven, 17-7, on a sun-splashed Saturday afternoon at Vonnie Gros Field.
 
With the win, West Chester (15-0, 10-0 PSAC) clinched a bye in the first round of the upcoming PSAC Tournament next month as one of the top two teams in the regular-season standings. One win in its next two games would clinch the regular-season title and give the Golden Rams the right to host the postseason tournament.
 
Saturday's tilt between two of the most dominant women's lacrosse programs in the PSAC over the last decade carried with it regional implications as well with West Chester the top-ranked team in the Atlantic Region and Lock Haven coming in at No. 4. However, the host Golden Rams left little doubt as to the outcome, running out to an 8-0 lead early and never looking back.
 
Barnett scored three goals and assisted on another during that game-opening run. West Chester won the first six draw controls of the game and, therefore, controlled the pace of game and set a tone early.
 
Tatum Altman (North Brunswick, N.J./North Brunswick) and Tara Morrissey (Downingtown, Pa./Bishop Shanahan) each netted a pair of goals in that decisive stint. Trisha Baud (West Deptford, N.J./West Deptford) and Emily Schulze (Harleysville, Pa./North Penn) each scored twice as well.
 
Julianne Clemens (Springfield, Pa./Springfield-DELCO) made five saves to pick up her 11th win in the cage.
 
Molly Reinhart (Sinking Springs, Pa./Wilson) was credited with six caused turnovers. She now has 11 caused turnovers in West Chester's last two games combined. Stella secured nine draw controls while Schulze picked up five ground balls.
 
West Chester held a 15-10 advantage in draw controls and forced Lock Haven into 23 turnovers. The Golden Rams cleared the ball 16 out of 18 times to help maintain possession.
 
West Chester heads to Millersville next Wednesday with a regular-season title on the line. Game time is set for 4 p.m.