WEST CHESTER, Pa. –
Ryan McKinney (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown West) scored the first four goals of the game to get host West Chester rolling en route to a 15-4 victory over visiting Millersville at sun-splashed Vonnie Gros Field Wednesday afternoon.
West Chester (14-2, 10-1 PSAC) clinched at least a share of its 17th Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference title with the win while Millersville (9-7, 7-4) falls into a tie for fifth place in the league standings with one game left in the regular season. The Golden Rams will play on the road at Indiana (Pa.) on Saturday for an outright regular-season championship and the right to host the 2019 PSAC Tournament next month. The top six teams qualify for the postseason with the top two seeds receiving a first-round bye.
Millersville hung with the hosts for the first 12 minutes of the contest. However, McKinney's fourth goal of the game ignited a 10-0 run for the Purple & Gold while its defense smothered the Marauders' confidence with a scoreless run that lasted just over 28 minutes, and by then, the outcome of the tilt was no longer in doubt at 13-3.
West Chester harassed Millersville into 26 turnovers and rode the Marauders in the clearing game well. The visitors converted just 13 of 22 clear attempts, which most of the time turned into easy transition goals for the Golden Rams at the other end. The home team also won 13 of 20 draw controls to apply constant pressure in 'Ville's end.
McKinney chipped in a pair of assists in the second half to lead all scorers with six points.
Sami Barnett (Glenolden, Pa./Interboro) and
Tara Morrissey (Downingtown, Pa./Bishop Shanahan) each finished with a hat trick and five points on the afternoon.
Defensively,
Molly Reinhart (Sinking Springs, Pa./Wilson) caused four turnovers and scooped up four ground balls.
Brenna Lynch (Richboro, Pa./Archbishop Wood) grabbed a game-high five ground balls and caused a pair of turnovers herself.
The win runs West Chester's winning streak on the season to eight games while moving its win streak against Millersville in the series with the Marauders to 39 straight, dating back to Millersville's lone win in 1989. Head coach
Ginny Martino remains unbeaten against Millersville at 29-0 since she took over the program in 1998, and West Chester moves to 47-1 all-time against the Marauders.
West Chester travels to IUP on Saturday for a 1 p.m. faceoff in its final regular season match of 2019.
