No. 6 West Chester Downs Lock Haven, 16-6, in PSAC Semifinal

WEST CHESTER, Pa. - Maggie Stella (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks East) scored a season-high six goals and Tatum Altman (North Brunswick, N.J./North Brunswick) added another four as sixth-ranked West Chester advanced to the PSAC Championship Game with a 16-6 victory over No. 22 Lock Haven in the semifinals at sun-splashed Vonnie Gros Field Friday afternoon.
 
West Chester (18-0) advances to the PSAC title game for a record 27th time and will face Mercyhurst (12-5), which defeated East Stroudsburg (13-3) by the score of 14-11 in the other semifinal Friday. Lock Haven falls to 11-6 in what is most likely the Lady Eagles' season finale.
 
The Golden Rams went on an 8-1 run that began midway through the first half and extended into the second half to turn an 5-3 game into a 13-4 contest. The difference was the discrepancy in draw controls over the final 30 minutes. West Chester held an 8-3 advantage in that category in the final stanza.
 
"Sure, we tweaked a few things," WCU head coach Ginny Martino said afterwards. "But, the draw controls was really what got us going. We were able to maintain possession and string together a few goals."
 
West Chester opened up a 5-1 lead at the beginning of the contest. Altman scored two of her four tallies during that run. However, the play of freshman goalkeeper Julianne Clemens (Springfield, Pa./Springfield-DELCO) frustrated Lock Haven early on and lifted the Golden Rams.
 
"If I can make a few saves early, then I usually gain that confidence that comes with it," Clemens said. "But, it's been fun playing behind my 'D'. They really communicate well, and I communicate with them really well. When we are on the same page, things just click."
 
Clemens made 10 saves, six in the first half, en route to her 14th win on the year without a loss.
 
Altman added a pair of assists to finish the day with six points. Sami Barnett (Glenolden, Pa./Interboro) and Tara Morrissey (Downingtown, Pa./Bishop Shanahan) added a pair of goals as well. Stella added four ground balls and seven draw controls.
 
Rachel Noble (Wall, N.J./Wall) and Emily Schulze (Harleysville, Pa./North Penn) each scored as well.