Box Score WEST CHESTER, PA - Sr.
Emma Velez (Coatesville, Pa./Bishop Shanahan) converted a penalty corner with 40 seconds left in the game that lifted second-ranked and host West Chester to a 1-0 victory over visiting and fourth-ranked Millersville in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) field hockey showdown at Vonnie Gros Field on a picture perfect Wednesday afternoon.
With the win, West Chester (7-1, 2-0 PSAC) handed head coach
Amy Cohen her 200th career victory while delivering Millersville (8-1, 1-1 PSAC) its first setback of the season. Both Shippensburg and West Chester are tied atop the conference standings at 2-0 heading into their clash next week.
The Golden Rams drew a penalty corner in the final minute of play when the Marauders didn't give five yards on a restart. Freshman
Valerie van Kuijck (Denbosch, The Netherlands) inserted to
Dara Spavlik (Hockessin, Del./Conrad), who stopped the ball and pushed it into the circle. From there, Velez lined up her game-winner, beating Millersville goalkeeper Kerstin Koons to the right just inside the post. The goal sent the purple and gold into a frenzy on the sideline.
Up to that point, Koons and her counterpart from West Chester,
Claire Nielsen (Wescosville, Pa./Emmaus) were stealing the show. Each made some spectacular saves to keep the contest scoreless. The way the two goalies were playing, many got the feeling that one goal was going to be enough to win the game. West Chester outshot Millersville, 16-8, including 11-1 after halftime. The Golden Rams also held an 11-3 advantage on corners. Koons made six saves in the contest while Nielsen was credited with four.
West Chester returns to Vonnie Gros Field on Saturday morning for an early 10 a.m. tilt with Indiana (Pa.) on Homecoming Weekend. The Golden Rams will honor the back-to-back national championship teams from 2011 and 2012 at halftime of that game.
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