West Chester Advances To Round Of 16 With 4-2 Win At Slippery Rock

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - Junior Hannah Zach (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks East) tallied two second-half goals and one assist to lift the West Chester University women's soccer, 4-2, over host Slippery Rock University in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday. The Golden Rams will be one of 16 teams remaining in the tournament at the conclusion of today's games.
 
Within the first five minutes of the game, sophomore Jenna Peters (Fairless Hills, Pa./Pennsbury) headed in a goal on a corner kick from Zach to give West Chester a 1-0 lead.
 
In the 21st minute, senior Jenny Bail (Carlisle, Pa./Cumberland Valley) grabbed a rebound off a Peters header that clanked off the post. Bail then sent a shot into the back of the net to give the Golden Rams a 2-0 advantage.
 
Slippery Rock responded with two goals from Madison Johnson and Kayla Swope within the last 20 minutes of the first half to tie the game. West Chester outshot Slippery Rock in the first half, 14-4.
 
In the 58th minute, Zach received a pass from sophomore Arin Coleman (Farmington, N.M./Farmington/Texas Tech) and perfectly placed a grounder past the goalie to put West Chester ahead 3-2.
 
Just over 10 minutes later, Zach secured West Chester's lead with a header goal. It came from directly in front of the net on a perfectly placed Peters cross.
 
Freshman Hayley McGee (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland) made five saves in the game in her sixth start for the Golden Rams this season.
 
No. 6-seed West Chester faces the winner of No. 1 Bloomsburg and No. 4 Millersville at a time and location that is to be determined in the third round of the NCAA Tournament.