No. 6 West Chester Prepares For Defense Of Its PSAC Title

WEST CHESTER, Pa. – Sixth-ranked West Chester University begins its quest for a second straight women's lacrosse conference title and league-best 22nd overall title when the Golden Rams face Seton Hill University on Friday, May 3 at 1 p.m. in the first of two semifinal contests at Vonnie Gros Field.
 
Tickets to the PSAC Women's Lacrosse Championship Tournament are $10 for adults and $5 for students. Students from a PSAC member Institution with a valid school ID, or those with a PSAC pass, will be admitted for free. No complimentary tickets will be available.
 
West Chester (15-2) won the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) regular season title for the 17th time and enters the postseason tournament as the favorite. The Golden Rams received a first-round bye and will play Seton Hill (11-7), which defeated Indiana (Pa.) 16-14 on Tuesday in the quarterfinals. Second-seeded and 14th-ranked East Stroudsburg (13-4) also received a bye into the semifinals and will play third-seeded and 24th-ranked Mercyhurst (13-5) on Friday at 4 p.m. at Vonnie Gros Field after the conclusion of the West Chester-Seton Hill contest.
 
West Chester defeated Seton Hill by the score of 18-10 in the regular-season meeting between the two schools in Greensburg, Pa. The Golden Rams have won the last six meetings between the two conference rivals, including the only previous postseason encounter back in 2014 (9-8 at Seton Hill). That victory avenged the only loss to the Griffins in the overall series earlier that spring (15-10 at Seton Hill). West Chester is 6-1 all-time against Seton Hill and 3-0 at home against the Griffins.
 
Seton Hill is making its fifth appearance in the PSAC Tournament in the school's six years in the league. The Griffins move on to their first semifinal appearance since the 2015 season. Fueled by an 11-goal first half, the Seton Hill University women's lacrosse team held on to defeat IUP, 16-14, in the opening round. Keagan Pontious, Mackenzie Kilduff and Jaclyn Frank all finished with three goals in the quarterfinal win. Goalkeeper Hailey Jacobs made nine saves in the win.
 
Head Coach Ginny Martino's squad has won nine consecutive contests entering the semifinals and paces the league in goals scored (283) while allowing the least amount of goals (110). Sr., Attacker Ryan McKinney (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown West) ranks ninth in the PSAC in goals per game (2.71) while Jr., Attacker Tatum Altman (North Brunswick, N.J./North Brunswick) ranks fifth in the league in assists per game (1.94) and Sr., Attacker Tara Morrissey (Downingtown, Pa./Bishop Shanahan) ranks seventh (1.47). Altman also ranks ninth in points per game (3.69). So., GK Julianne Clemens (Springfield, Pa./Springfield-DELCO) leads the PSAC in goals-against average with a 6.68 mark.
 
The 2019 PSAC Women's Lacrosse Championship Game will take place on Sunday, May 5 at 1 p.m. at Vonnie Gros Field.