INDIANA, Pa.- Valerie Van Kuijck (Denbosch, The Netherlands/Pierson School) scored the game-winner for West Chester just over a minute into overtime, lifting No. 1 West Chester (8-0, 2-0) to its second consecutive overtime victory to open PSAC play, this time defeating No. 6 IUP (6-3, 1-1) by a final of 2-1.
Van Kuijck's OT-winner capped off a comeback for West Chester, which started in the first half after an early second-quarter goal by IUP, which would prove to be the Crimson Hawks lone goal of the contest.
Despite this victory being the lowest-scoring game of the young season for the top-ranked Golden Rams, West Chester ended the contest with a convincing 14-4 lead in shots and an 8-3 advantage in shots on goal in the road triumph.
After a scoreless first quarter, IUP opened the scoring in the 18
th minute with a goal off a cut to the middle from the endline, to take an early lead over the Golden Rams. This lead did not last long as the Golden Rams earned a stroke less than a minute later, which
Rory Strom (Jenkintown, Pa./Jenkintown) buried to even the score at 1-1.
After being held without a shot for the first time all season in the first quarter, West Chester applied steady pressure to the IUP defense, particularly in the second half, outshooting the Crimson Hawks 8-1 in the second 30 minutes of action but the IUP defense, led by five saves from Amanda Zaner was up to the mighty task of keeping the game even at 1-1, forcing overtime once more.
In the extra session, West Chester wasted little time in finding the game-winner, when
Dara Spavlik (Hockessin, Del./Conrad Weiser) sent a ball in from the top of the circle, which found the waiting stick of Van Kuijck to lift West Chester to the victory with the lone shot for either team of the extra-session.
In addition to its 10-shot advantage, West Chester also ended the game with a 12-5 lead in penalty corners en route to the road victory.
Megan Gula (Lincoln University, Pa./Avon Grove) played well for the Golden Rams, making one clutch save while
Montana Ott (Mount Bethel, Pa./Bangor) made a clutch defensive-save to slow the Crimson Hawk offense and allow West Chester to remain unbeaten.
Up Next:
West Chester will be back in action on Wednesday evening at Millersville beginning at 6 p.m.
