WEST CHESTER, PA –
Valerie Van Kuijck (Denbosch, The Netherlands) scored a goal and assisted on another as West Chester advanced to the national semifinals following a 4-1 win over Adelphi at Vonnie Gros Field Saturday afternoon.
West Chester will face Assumption in the NCAA Division II Field Hockey semifinals on Friday, Nov. 19 at Millersville's Biemesderfer Stadium. East Stroudsburg defeated Bentley, 2-1, in the other quarterfinal and will join West Chester in the semifinals. The Warriors will play Shippensburg in the other matchup on Friday.
"We have a really young group," West Chester head coach
Amy Cohen commented aftwerwards. "You always want that opportunity to defend a title, but that is a lot of pressure that this group has been under all year long. Now, this is fun. To see them come together at the end of the year like this has been fantastic."
The day started cold, windy and rainy with neither side gaining much momentum. However, the host Golden Rams finally broke through in the 28th minute to take a 1-0 into the break. That's when the clouds parted, the rain stopped and the sun peaked through the gloomy weather. West Chester responded with goals in the 33rd and 37th minute to take a commanding 3-0 lead heading in to the final quarter.
"It was freezing and pouring. The ball was moving slower," Cohen said. "Everyone was cold. I told them to close their eyes and imagine its 85 degrees and sunny. Really, it doesn't matter the conditions. You have to do whatever you can to win in these types of games."
Adelphi finally got on the board in the 48th minute off a penalty corner. However, West Chester answered with a tally in the 53rd minute to salt away the contest.
Cameron Smith (Lewes, Del./Cape Henlopen) tipped in a shot from Van Kuijck while standing on the far post for the first goal of the game. A nice individual effort from Van Kuijck almost three minutes into the second half doubled the hosts' lead. She sent a rocket of a back-hand shot into the far upper right-hand corner.
Emma Velez (Coatesville, Pa./Bishop Shanahan) converted a penalty stroke in the 37th minute to give West Chester a 3-0 advantage heading into the final quarter.
Adelphi's Alexandra Docyk batted in a ball that had popped into the air off a kick save from a shot by teammate Emily Reichenbach in the 48th minute.
Senior defender
Autumn Gager (York, Pa./Penn Manor) then scored her first career goal in the 53rd minute when she tipped in a shot standing on the doorstep of the near post.
"I asked her what she was doing up there," Cohen offered. "She said she didn't see a left forward up on the post, so she ran up there."
West Chester will make its third straight semifinal appearance and seventh in Cohen's 11 years at the helm. The Golden Rams went to the final weekend of the season in 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019 and 2021 – winning it all in 2011, 2012 and 2019.
