WEST CHESTER, Pa. - No. 23-ranked West Chester women's soccer scored four goals and held Holy Family to a shutout in the first game of the season.
Both teams fought strong defensively through the first half as West Chester took 13 shots and only scored once. Five minutes before halftime, junior Olivia Muha (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Montour) scored her team's first goal of the season on an assist from junior Hannah Zach (Bucks County, Pa. / Central Bucks East).
Only ten minutes of game time went by before Zach scored a breakaway goal assisted by junior Sam Jankowski (Elysburg, Pa. / Southern Columbia). At the 56-minute mark, a collision inside the box created a penalty kick opportunity for West Chester. Jankowski's PK attempt was blocked by Holy Family goalie, Brianna Puldo, but Zach rebounded the deflection and scored her second goal of the game.
Zach finished the game with two goals and one assist. Golden Rams head coach Betty Ann Kempf Townsley referred to Zach's performance as the "Zach Attack" of the game.
In the 75th minute, senior captain Madison Baxter (Downingtown, Pa. / Downingtown East) came in fast to score her first goal of the season and put WCU up 4-0.
West Chester ended the game with 27 shots on the goal, and senior goalie Brooke Myers (Middletown, Pa. Middletown Area) recorded four saves in the shutout.
Senior midfielder Jenny Bail (Carlisle, Pa. Cumberland Valley) was held scoreless, but her 10 shots on goal gave West Chester a ton of momentum.
In its next game, West Chester begins Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference play with Mansfield University at home on Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Rockwell Field.
