WASHINGTON- Craig Potts (Stewartstown, Pa./Kennard Dale) gave West Chester an early lead on Wednesday afternoon and made a clutch defensive play late in the second half while
Josh Daniels (Fleetwood, Pa./Oley Valley) scored the eventual game-winner to help West Chester (2-1) earn a 2-1 road victory over the University of the District of Columbia (2-2).
Potts wasted little time in opening the scoring on Wednesday afternoon, taking a feed from
Kendall Walkes (West Chester, Pa./Henderson) in the 10
th minute to stake the Golden Rams to an early 1-0 advantage.
Through the balance of the first half, UDC applied pressure to the Golden Ram defense, outshooting West Chester 6-4 through the opening 45 minutes but
Daniel Good (Exton, Pa./Downingtown East) was up to the task, making three big saves to help West Chester maintain its one-goal lead.
The late first half pressure by the Firebirds paid dividends early in the second half when UDC evened the score at 1-1 after a goal by Jake Bedforth in the 53
rd minute.
As the game approached its 75
th minute, West Chester and UDC each threatened to retake control of the contest with a mid-half goal but each goalie proved up to the task as the game remained locked at 1-1.
Josh Daniels (Fleetwood, Pa./Oley Valley) made the late pressure pay dividends for West Chester in the 78th minute when he finished an opportunity to give West Chester back a 2-1 lead entering the late stages of the game.
UDC nearly struck back in the 81
st minute off a corner kick but grad student and reigning PSAC East Defensive Player of the Year Potts was able to clear the ball out and keep the Golden Ram lead intact en route to the 2-1 road triumph.
UDC ended the game with an 11-10 edge in shots although shots on goal were even at 7-7. West Chester did manage to end the contest with a 4-1 lead in corner kicks. Good ended the game with six important saves, including a handful in the waning moments of the game to preserve the 2-1 victory while his counterpart made five saves of his own in the setback.
Up Next:
West Chester continues its non-league schedule later this week when the Golden Rams welcome Goldey-Beacom to Rockwell Field on Saturday afternoon beginning at 1 p.m.
