ALBANY, N.Y.-On the heels of its first Regional Championship since 2017 and seeking its first National Semifinal appearance since 2006, which also came via a win over Franklin Pierce, the West Chester women's soccer team (22-0-1) returned to action on a frigid Sunday afternoon inside the Plumeri Sports Complex vs Franklin Pierce (16-4-3).
Kaitlynn Haughey (Philadelphia, Pa./Penn Charter) scored the tying goal midway through regulation, setting the stage for
Alyson Cutter (Warrington, Pa./C.B. South) to score the eventual game-winner in overtime, which allowed West Chester to advance past Franklin Pierce by a 2-1 final score.
"I'm ecstatic," opened Kempf Townsley. "I couldn't be happier for this group of girls, they work so hard, and they are so resilient, so this win is so special for us." "This team has no quit," continued Kempf Townsley. "This team has a great been there, done that before attitude, and they have done a great job all season of staying steady and just continuing to push no matter what," explained Kempf Townsley when asked her team's latest come-from-behind victory.
With this victory, West Chester advances to the National Semifinals for the first time in head coach
Betty Ann Kempf Townsley's tenure at the helm,, making its first appearance since 2006, which was also the first year the concept of a Division II Festival was introduced. This is also the first time that the Atlantic Region Champion has advanced to the National Semifinals since Kutztown accomplished the feat in 2016.
"It's honestly a great feeling," opened senior keeper McGee when asked about the victory. "This was such a great win for us, and to get it during my senior year makes it that much better." McGee also set the new single-season win record this afternoon, earning her 22nd win of the season, passing Hilary Smart's 2006 record. "Getting the record is certainly an added bonus," acknowledged McGee, "but I have to give credit to my teammates, especially my backline, as they did a great job again today just like they've done all season."
"22 wins, that is so special," began Kempf Townsley when asked about McGee setting a new single-season win record on Sunday afternoon. "That is so rare for a team to have a 22-win season, so for an individual athlete to put together a 22-0-1 season, that is an amazing accomplishment, so I'm extremely proud of her for that.
Franklin Pierce opened the contest with early pressure on the Golden Ram defense, taking two of the first three shots of the contest, including an early chance in the 14
th minute, which required a diving stop by
Hayley McGee (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) to keep the game scoreless. As the half continued, West Chester began to step up its pressure, outshooting its foes 4-1 over the final 15 minutes of the half, including a late chance by
Julia Raybold (Elizabethtown, Pa./Elizabethtown), which went just over the crossbar to keep the game scoreless heading to the half.
At the break, West Chester held a 9-5 lead in shots, while FPU managed to end the half with a 2-1 lead in corners.
Franklin Pierce opened the scoring with an early second-half tally, scoring in the 49
th minute off a rebound in front on the far post to give the Ravens an early 1-0 lead.
Trailing for the first time all postseason, West Chester answered back quickly with a goal from
Kaitlynn Haughey (Philadelphia, Pa./Penn Charter) off a rebound as well, following a free kick from just outside the box from Friday night's hero
Kiley Kergides (Rydal, Pa./Germantown Academy).
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"When Kiley (Kergides) lined up for the shot, I knew she would give a good look, and she took a great shot that the goalie made a nice play on, but the rebound game off, and I was able to be in a great position to go finish it and tie it up," explained Haughey.
With just under 20 minutes to play in regulation, West Chester got a great scoring chance in front, but an outstanding save by FPU keeper Emilie Fox kept the game locked at 1-1.
As regulation wound down, West Chester and Franklin Pierce both had solid chances, but Fox and McGee were both up to the task of keeping the match tied, thus, sending WCU to overtime for the first time all postseason.
Franklin Pierce nearly broke the tie on the first possession of overtime with a hard, line-drive kick that was saved by McGee to keep the match tied.
Late in the first overtime period,
Alyson Cutter (Warrington, Pa./C.B. South) buried an assist on a perfect cross from
Faith Matter (Middletown, Pa./Middletown) to give West Chester the overtime lead.
"I just kind of knew when Faith had the ball to get in position on the outside since that was the look we had been trying to get," started Cutter. "She sent me a great cross, and I was able to get in good position to finish and help us pick up the victory," said Cutter.
"That goal was actually interesting because a big part of the game plan going in was if you are the flanker player to play to the opposite post and try to draw the keeper out of range," said Kempf Townsley on Cutter's OT goal. "Faith did a great job in getting into that position and drawing the keeper out and then finding Cutter, and she showed great composure to finish the chance in such a big spot," continued the Golden Rams head coach.
Early in the second overtime period, Franklin Pierce generated a solid chance, getting a corner kick with just over six minutes to play, but
Jordyn Dupes (Middletown, Pa./Middletown) cleared the ball out to keep West Chester in the lead.
Franklin Pierce was far from done, nearly getting off a great shot from the top of the box but the Golden Ram defense stiffened and blocked the chance to maintain the lead.
With 4:30 to play in regulation, Franklin Pierce looked as if it could even the score, but the chance went just high, bouncing off the top of the crossbar and continuing over the goal, leading to a WCU goal kick.
Franklin Pierce continued to fight in the waning moments of regulation, desperately searching for the late equalizer, which would have sent the match to PKs, but the Golden Ram defense showed its toughness, consistently blocking shots and eventually clearing the ball out to send West Chester past Franklin Pierce by a 2-1 final in overtime.
West Chester ended the match with a 23-18 advantage in shots, while Franklin Pierce finished the game with a slim 7-6 lead in corner kicks after holding a 6-3 lead in this category at the end of regulation.
West Chester earned the top-seed in the National Semifinals, thus, earning a matchup against fourth-seeded Ferris State beginning at 8 p.m. eastern inside Interbay Stadium on the campus of Seattle Pacific.Â
