Top-Ranked West Chester Blanks Kutztown; Advances To National Final Sunday

WCU Post-Game Press Conference
West Chester vs. Kutztown - Full Replay

MILLERSVILLE, Pa. – West Chester University converted a pair of penalty corner opportunities in the first half and then turned to its stout defense in the second half to shut out No. 4 Kutztown, 2-0, in the NCAA Division II National Semifinal at Chyrst Field at Biemesderfer Stadium Friday afternoon.
 
West Chester (19-1) advances to the national championship game for the seventh time in its illustrious field hockey history and the first time since 2012. Sunday's final marks the third time in the last nine years that the Golden Rams will play for a national title. Kutztown, appearing in its first final four, finishes the season at 15-7.
 
"I think we played flawlessly in our recovery on defense, which is how I think we were able to get the win," nine-year head coach Amy Cohen said afterwards. "Sunday is another opportunity to go out and play and get better. I've told them that all season long, and that message will be the same on Sunday."
 
Senior forward Kat Roncoroni (Lebanon Twp., N.J./Voorhees [American Univ.]) got things going late in the first quarter when she converted an opportunity on a penalty corner in the 15th minute. Junior Marre Corver (Aarlanderveen, The Netherlands) tipped a shot from Sydney Ostroski (Lewes, Del./Cape Henlopen) past Kutztown's keeper Kerri Hanshaw in the 22nd minute for the insurance tally.
 
"I think our passing was more on point today," senior Roncoroni said. "We practice our corners every day, so that when we get into a game, we know what we are doing."
 
Kutztown was limited to just one shot all afternoon as West Chester defended its circle vigorously. The Golden Bears, the only team to beat the Golden Rams this fall, never got enough of an offensive rush forward to West Chester's freshman goalkeeper, Claire Nielsen (Wescosville, Pa./Emmaus).
 
"I think everyone on the team would agree that we did not play our best today," Kutztown head coach Marci Scheuing said. "We know we can play better than that. Now, all the underclassmen know what it tastes like, and I think they want to be back here."
 
Hanshaw made four saves in the cage for Kutztown while Nielsen pushed aside the lone shot she saw off a penalty corner in the third quarter.
 
"I don't think moments are too big. It's understanding the moment. I can't wait to see what they will do on Sunday," Cohen added.
 
"I think we panicked at the start a little bit," senior midfielder Caitlin Kelly said. "I'm really proud of this team and how we came back after not starting out on the right foot."
 
West Chester held an 8-2 advantage in corners and a 12-2 advantage on shots. The Golden Rams are 6-0 in national championship games, including 2-0 under head coach Amy Cohen. West Chester won back-to-back Division II championships in 2011 and 2012, Cohen's first two years as head of the program.
 
The NCAA Division II National Championship Game will take place Sunday at 1 p.m. at Biemesderfer Stadium in Millersville. Saint Anselm, who defeated East Stroudsburg in the other semifinal, will be West Chester's opponent in the final.