WEST CHESTER, Pa.- Shane Hartey (Runnemede, N.J/Triton Hall) scored the eventual game-winner midway through the first half to lift West Chester (9-4-2, 6-2-2) to a crucial 1-0 PSAC East victory over East leading Bloomsburg (12-3-1, 7-2-1).
"I am really proud of the guys and how they stuck to the game plan and competed really well throughout the game today," began head coach
Michael Benn. "I felt like last time we played them they might have competed a little better then we did at certain parts of the game and that is a really good team, that will certainly be in the postseason so we knew that we had to bring our best and I think our guys did that with what might have been our most complete game of the year."
Daniel Good (Exton, Pa./Downingtown East) registered his 17
th career shutout in the victory, tying Matt Palmer (2014-17) for the most in program history, making one big save and helping to lead the West Chester defensive unit throughout the afternoon as the Golden Rams picked up a critical win over Bloomsburg on Saturday afternoon.
West Chester earned three big points in its continued hunt spot for a spot in the PSAC Tournament and potential PSAC East Regular season title, increasing its point total to 20 on the year, which is currently good enough for second place in the PSAC East, pending results of other games this evening. This afternoon's setback was just the second of the year for the East leading Huskies with both negative results coming at the hands of the Golden Rams.
Hartey's goal came off a long free kick from the other side of midfield from fellow fifth-year senior
Craig Potts (Stewartstown, Pa./Kennard Dale) who sent a beautiful ball to the far post, which found Hartey and gave West Chester a 1-0 lead in the match with just under 14 minutes to play until halftime.
"Scoring a big goal on senior day, I really couldn't ask for much more," said Hartey. "Today was really special for me especially being a fifth-year and playing with some of these other guys who have also been here for five years so today was huge for really for them," explained Hartey.
When asked about the kick from Potts, which led the goal, Hartey said, "Me and Potts have a great connection, both being fifth-year guys and being two big guys in the box, so I think we both know what we are looking for. We caught eyes before the play and he played a great ball, and I went and got it. I always trust the way he can play a ball after working with him so much at practice over the years."
Over the balance of the first half, West Chester and Bloomsburg found themselves in the midfield for much of the half, trading possession but the Huskies did generate the final chance of the half in the closing seconds when a shot by Sam Blumberger soared over the crossbar, allowing WCU to carry a 1-0 lead into the halftime break.
At the end of the first half, West Chester held a commanding 8-2 lead in shots and a 6-1 edge in corner kicks, having the better of the play throughout much of the opening 45 minutes.
Bloomsburg amped up its pressure in the second half, taking six shots, including its lone two shots on goal, which the West Chester defense was able to handle to make the mid first-half goal standup.
Despite an increase in Bloomsburg pressure in the second half, West Chester still ended the game with a 15-8 advantage in shots and a 8-2 lead in shots on goal while also ending the contest with a 9-5 advantage in corner kicks.
When asked about the message to the team following this victory and ahead of another big game on Wednesday vs ESU, Coach Benn said, "Today we did a great job-so tonight we enjoy it for an hour or so and then focus on getting ourselves rested, recovered, and ready for Wednesday vs ESU. They beat us earlier this year and are another really good team fighting for a playoff spot, so we'll need to bring our best again to be successful in that game.
Up Next:
West Chester returns to action on Wednesday afternoon in what will be its final regular season game on Rockwell vs ESU beginning at 2:30 p.m.
