WEST CHESTER, PA –
Hannah Stanislawczyk (Mohnton, Pa./Gov. Mifflin) and
Keri Barnett (Glenolden, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) each scored five goals, including Stanislawczyk's 100th-career tally, as fourth-ranked West Chester downed visiting Millersville, 20-2, in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Women's Lacrosse Quarterfinal at sun-splashed Vonnie Gros Field Tuesday afternoon.
West Chester (15-1) advances to the PSAC semifinals and will take on Seton Hill Friday afternoon at 1 p.m. at Dick's Clothing & Sporting Goods Stadium. Millersville (11-6) finished its season with the most wins the program has seen since 1990.
The Golden Rams shut out the Marauders in the first half while building a 10-0 lead by the break. The game may have unfolded differently had West Chester not gotten stellar goalkeeping from first-team All-PSAC honoree
Jessica Gorr (Exton, Pa./Bishop Shanahan). Gorr made eight of her 12 saves on the day in the first half, including five in the first quarter alone. With Millersville winning 9 of 11 draws in the first 30 minutes, Gorr's ability to come up with big save after big save started to frustrate the Marauders.
"(Millersville) was winning all the draws, even though we were winning on the scoreboard," WCU head coach
Ginny Martino said afterwards. "If we didn't have Jess back there, it could have been a lot different game."
Gorr's confidence grew with every save, including a few on free position opportunities.
"Every save that Jess made just pumped us up," senior defender
Claire Dennis said. "I thought our communication and our movement was on point today."
Gorr shut out the Marauders for the first 32 minutes, 51 seconds of the game. Millersville's Liv Genovese finally broke through for her eighth goal of the year early in the second half, but by then, West Chester was well in control.
The Golden Rams fixed their problems inside the faceoff circle over the final 30 minutes, winning 10 of 13 draws. That won the hosts a lot more possessions.
"Adjustments needed to be made, and we made them," Martino added. "I was really proud of how we were able to make a lot of adjustments as the game went on – especially because we are such a young team."
Grace Frasso (Cinnaminson, N.J./Cinnaminson) got Martino's message loud and clear. She scooped up four draw controls after halftime.
Senior
Lindsay Monigle (Rehoboth Beach, Del./Cape Henlopen) finished with four goals and six points.
Jordan Santana (Egg Harbor Twp., N.J./Egg Harbor Twp.) scored two goals off the bench for the Golden Rams.
Julia Littlewood (Berwyn, Pa./Conestoga) finished with one goal and two assists for a three-point playoff game.
West Chester reaches the semifinals of the PSAC Tournament for the 18th straight year since the league first expanded the playoff format to include four teams in 2004. The other semifinal on Friday at Seton Hill University pits East Stroudsburg against Mercyhurst right after the West Chester-Seton Hill contest at 4 p.m.
