West Chester vs. Assumption (FULL REPLAY)
MILLERSVILLE, PA – West Chester University advanced to the NCAA Division II Field Hockey Championship Game Friday afternoon with a convincing 3-0 victory over Assumption at Chryst Field at Biemesderfer Stadium.
West Chester (17-4) advances to its second straight national title game and fourth since re-classifying in 2011. The Golden Rams will face either Shippensburg or East Stroudsburg on Sunday at 1 p.m.
"Assumption has been a tremendous program all season, and today was a great game," West Chester head coach
Amy Cohen said in the press conference afterwards. "Hats off to them. I really do think that they had a great season. Now, looking at the stats, we had 28 shots. I am super-impressed with that effort – especially on an in-fill surface."
Valerie van Kuijck (Denbosch, The Netherlands), who scored two of the Golden Rams' three goals Friday, opened the scoring in the 18th minute when she tipped a shot from
Caitie McNamara (Buderim, Australia) past Assumption goalkeeper Kylie Gargiulo for her 20th of the season.
"I was a bit nervous when I first stepped on the field," van Kuijck, a freshman from The Netherlands said. "But, once you are out there, you forget all of that and just play. This was fun."
That's the way things stood through halftime – thanks to Greyhounds' keeper Gargiulio. The field seemed to be tipped toward Assumption's end for most of the half. West Chester fired off 18 shots in the first 30 minutes of play and controlled the possession time for much of the half as well.
"I'm very proud of this team," Assumption head coach Annie Lahey said. "It's not the outcome that we wanted, but I'm proud of the way that they battled. That first quarter was an onslaught, and (Gargiulo) is a Ninja in net. She is always doing some kind of acrobatics to make sure the goal does not go in."
"I knew this was going to be a tough game," Gargiulo said. "But, I have an amazing team in front of me, and I can't thank them enough."
Van Kuijck doubled West Chester's lead in the 36th minute with her 21st of the season off a feed from Lancaster native
Autumn Gager (York, Pa./Penn Manor).
"Autumn started most of the season, even though she didn't start today," Cohen commented. "But, we have some key senior leadership to go along with some young freshman talent."
West Chester's second goal, assisted by Gager, came very shortly after the senior midfielder had been inserted into the game.
""I'm always ready when (Coach Cohen) calls me," Gager said afterwards. "It was my first time playing that side. I didn't expect that. But, it was beautiful, and it really made my day, actually. I was not ready for my career to end."
Claudia Jazsczak (Coatesville, PA/Downingtown West) added an insurance tally in the fourth quarter. West Chester also had a goal off a penalty corner disallowed when it was determined that the strike came from outside the circle.
Junior goalkeeper
Claire Nielsen (Wescosville, PA/Emmaus) made two saves to remain perfect at 4-0 in NCAA Tournament games in her college career. Gargiulo was credited with seven saves in the loss.
