KUTZTOWN, Pa.-The West Chester women's soccer team (12-4-2) returned to action on Friday afternoon in its 18
th consecutive NCAA Tournament, earning a 2-0 victory over Charleston on a blustery November afternoon on the campus of Kutztown University.
With this victory, head coach
Betty Ann Kempf Townsley improved to 12-10-6 in the NCAA Tournament while also improving to 4-0-2 against Mountain East Conference foes in the NCAA Tournament.
"I am just excited for these players," opened Kempf Townsley. "We have worked on a lot of different things all year long and I thought our team really played together as a unit. There was not one player that had a bad day, they all had a great day, and it was a solid team effort, and it was just great to see them advance. It really is special to be on the field after not having a season last year, so to be able to get back to this point again is just huge and really a salute to the players and all they've done all season long" said Kempf Townsley.
In the first half, West Chester and Charleston both generated solid opportunities as they each logged three shots but neither team was able to break through, thus, sending the game to the halftime break scoreless at 0-0.
In the 65
th minute,
Julia Raybold (Elizabethtown, Pa./Elizabethtown) got on the end of a corner from
Jenna Peters (Fairless Hills, Pa./Pennsbury) to break the scoreless tie and give West Chester a 1-0 lead.
"We have really been focusing on set pieces," opened Raybold. "They were a major focus for us this week in practice so when Jenna played a great ball right to me, all I had to do was redirect it," explained Raybold.
Moments later,
Erin Greiner (Manheim, Pa./Manheim Central) became the 18
th different Golden Ram to score a goal this season and extended the lead as she finished a long ball played into the box off assists from
Deanna Lebotesis (Feasterville, Pa./Neshaminy) and
Rebecca Margolis (Newtown, Pa./Council Rock North).
West Chester continued to apply pressure as Raybold took a shot from the top of the box off a corner, which was punched just over the crossbar by the Charleston keeper to keep the score at 2-0 in favor of the Golden Rams.
West Chester continued to pressure Charleston late in the contest but Charleston was able hold up defensively and keep the score at 2-0 to remain in the contest late.
After registering three shots each in the first half, West Chester outshot Charleston by an impressive 7-1 margin in the second half to help earn the victory. West Chester also ended the game with an impressive 6-2 advantage in corner kicks en route to the 2-0 victory.
In goal,
Hayley McGee (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) played well, making three big saves to limit the explosive Charleston offense and earn the shutout victory.
This victory will setup a rematch for West Chester with its PSAC East rival and top-seed Kutztown. West Chester and Kutztown have played a pair of classic games against one another this season, splitting the season series with each team picking up a victory at the home of the other team.
When asked about the rematch with Kutztown, Kempf Townsley said, "I think we need to focus on our team and what we can do and our strengths. If we work to those strengths I think we have a good chance to get the result we need," concluded Kempf Townsley.
