BLOOMSBURG, PA -
Valerie van Kuijck (Denbosch, The Netherlands) scored a pair of goals to lead fourth-ranked West Chester to a 4-0 victory over host Bloomsburg in a pivotal Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) field hockey contest at Steph Pettit Stadium Wednesday afternoon.
West Chester (12-3, 5-3 PSAC) held its ground in the league standings heading into the final game of the league slate on Saturday against Mansfield. Bloomsburg (8-8, 3-5) is fighting for its playoff lives following the setback.
Van Kuijck connected on a long strike from the top of the circle off a feed from
Dara Spavlik (Hockessin, Del./Conrad) in the 17th minute. Seven minutes later,
Claudia Jaszczak (Coatesville, Pa./Downingtown West) doubled the visitor's lead when she banged home a pass from
Cameron Smith (Lewes, Del./Cape Henlopen), who dribbled along the end line before finding Jaszczak on the far side of the cage.
Van Kuijck notched her team-leading 13th of the season in the fourth quarter, and
Olivia Quagliero (South Hampton, N.J./Seneca) picked up her fifth tally of the year 10 minutes later to close out the scoring.
West Chester outshot Bloomsburg, 21-2, holding the Huskies without a shot on goal in the game. The Golden Rams held an 11-7 edge in penalty corners. Despite being awarded seven penalty corners, the Huskies still did not muster a shot on the Rams' cage.
West Chester returns home Saturday for a 1 p.m. contest against Mansfield on Senior Day at Vonnie Gros Field. It will be the team's final conference matchup of the regular season. The Golden Rams will conclude their full regular-season slate next Wednesday with a non-conference tilt at home against Millersville.
