WEST CHESTER, Pa.-Victoria Pungello (Jackson, N.J./Jackson Memorial) played the hero for the second time in as many games on Wednesday afternoon, scoring from distance in the 77
th minute to lift the West Chester University women's soccer team (6-2-1, 6-2-0) to an exciting 2-1 victory over Shepherd (3-3-4, 1-3-4) in PSAC East play.
Shepherd applied early pressure to the West Chester defense, getting a pair of shots on goal in the first 15 minutes of action, but
Grace Keen (Lincoln University, Pa./Avon Grove) made the stop both times to keep the Rams off the scoreboard.
Alyson Cutter (Warrington, Pa./C.B. South) gave the Golden Rams the first-half lead, taking a pass through the middle from
Victoria Pungello (Jackson, N.J./Jackson Memorial) and getting around the Shepherd defender to strike first in the 28
th minute of action.
In the 35
th minute, Shepherd appeared as if it might find the equalizer, nearly capitalizing on a break led by Lydia Gable, but the West Chester defense stepped in at the right moment to clear the chance away. Delaney Bittner controlled a loose ball outside the box and sent a shot in, but Keen made the stop once again to keep the Rams scoreless.
The visitors continued to apply pressure, getting another chance from Adriana Morales just outside the box, which would have evaded a diving Keen but went wide of the goal, leading to a goal kick for the Golden Rams late in the half.
In the final moments of the first half, West Chester got a pair of good chances in the 41
st and 43
rd minutes, but neither could find its mark, sending the game to the half with the Golden Rams holding a slim 1-0 lead.
In the 65
th minute, West Chester nearly doubled its lead as
Faith Matter (Middletown, Pa./Middletown) carried the ball down the left side, which led to a scoring opportunity on a loose ball just outside the box for
Kaitlynn Haughey (Philadelphia, Pa./Penn Charter).
Shepherd nearly got the equalizer on a counterattack, but Keen was up to the task, stopping a solid chance from Delaney Bittner to keep the Rams off the scoreboard. The Golden Rams launched a counterattack of their own after this, nearly resulting in a Matter goal after a great pass from Cutter, but the chance went wide, keeping the score locked at 1-0.
Shepherd's continued pressure paid off in the 76
th minute when the Rams evened the score with a Lydia Gable goal off a deflection in the box following a Wunderlich free kick.
West Chester did not stay tied for long, answering back 53 seconds later as Pungello sent a rocket from just outside the box off an assist from Cutter to restore a 2-1 Golden Ram lead.
After getting its lead back, West Chester continued to attack, nearly getting another goal off a header by
Jacqueline Hug (West Chester, Pa./Unionville), but the chance went wide, keeping the score at 2-1.
Shepherd continued to apply pressure to the West Chester defense, generating a few opportunities in the waning moments of regulation. Still, Keen and the Golden Rams were equal to the task, managing each chance to hold on for a 2-1 victory.
West Chester ended the game with a 26-14 lead in shots and a 13-7 advantage in shots on goal, thanks to a second-half performance, which saw the hosts outshoot Shepherd by a 17-6 margin.
Keen was strong in goal for West Chester, making six big saves, while her counterpart, Alayna Burgamy, also turned in a strong showing, making 11 saves to limit the dangerous Golden Ram offense.
Up Next:
West Chester returns to action on Saturday morning at East Stroudsburg beginning at 11:30 a.m.
