KUTZTOWN, Pa.- Following a 2-0 victory over East Stroudsburg in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Quarterfinals on Monday afternoon, the West Chester University women's soccer team (12-3-3) has shifted its collective attention to a Semifinal rematch against Mercyhurst (16-2-1) on Friday at 3 p.m.
West Chester, who entered the 2023 PSAC Tournament as the defending Champions, has followed a remarkably similar script in this year's conference tournament, scoring a pair of goals, with the second goal scored by
Faith Matter (Middletown, Pa./Middletown Area) to defeat ESU before matching up against Mercyhurst in the semifinal round on Friday. Friday afternoon's matchup carries a bit of extra-special meaning for the Golden Rams as they are currently ranked one spot back of the Lakers in the third and final Division II Women's Soccer Atlantic Regional rankings, checking in fourth, while Mercyhurst is ranked third. The Division II women's soccer committee will announce its selections for the 2023 edition of the NCAA Tournament on Monday, November 13, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
FAN INFORMATION
Similarly, to the Quarterfinals at Rockwell Field on Monday afternoon, tickets will be required for Friday afternoon's matchup with prices set at $10 for adults and $5 for students with students from PSAC Member Institutions with current, valid ID being admitted free of charge. Fans should purchase tickets for Friday's semifinal via this
link.
Fans unable to make the trip to watch the Golden Rams in person can follow the action via
live stats and
live video.
THE MATCHUP
When West Chester and Mercyhurst tangled in this matchup a year ago, the Golden Rams made short work of the Lakers, winning dominantly by a 3-0 final in Erie, scoring twice in the first 10 minutes of play to take a two-goal lead that they would never relinquish.
Alyson Cutter (Warrington, Pa./C.B. South), who scored the game-winner on Monday afternoon, also netted the game-winner in the semifinals last year, scoring on a PK in the seventh minute before helping
Jacqueline Hug (West Chester, Pa./Unionville), double the lead just two minutes later.
Lauren Corless (Old Bridge, N.J./Old Bridge) scored an insurance goal late, finding the back of the net with just over one minute to play in regulation.
West Chester has historically had the upper hand in its matchups against Mercyhurst, entering play on Friday afternoon with a 10-3 lead in the all-time series, including a six-game winning streak dating back to the 2014 season. Friday afternoon's matchup will be the first time the two sides have faced off in back-to-back years since the 2018 season, the last year of non-divisional play in the PSAC. Mercyhurst has scored just twice against the Golden Rams throughout the last six matchups, with the last goal coming during the 2015 season in a 2-1 West Chester victory.
FLOCK TALK
Entering the PSAC Tournament looking to defend its 2022 crown, West Chester got things off on the right foot on Monday afternoon, starting with an impressive 2-0 victory over an upset-minded East Stroudsburg team. After a back-and-forth first half, West Chester struck first in the 53
rd minute when Cutter scored off an assist from Matter before doubling its lead just over 10 minutes later when Matter scored a goal of her own off an assist from Cutter and
Victoria Pungello (Jackson, N.J/Jackson Memorial). Grace Keen (Lincoln University, Pa./Avon Grove) continued an excellent freshman season in goal on Monday afternoon, making six saves to record her 12th win and 10th shutout. Since a 3-0 setback at ESU on October 7, West Chester has been a team on a mission, playing to a record of 6-0-2 with six shutouts in its last eight games, outscoring opponents 14-3.
West Chester was well represented on the All-PSAC East squad released on Tuesday afternoon as WCU had five players honored, including Matter, who earned Player of the Year honors. Matter was one of four First Team All-League picks for West Chester as she was joined by
Jacqueline Graham (Toms River, N.J./Toms River North), Cutter, and
Kaitlynn Haughey (Philadelphia, Pa./Penn Charter), while
Julia Raybold (Elizabethtown, Pa./Elizabethtown). Matter also joined Haughey in a rare group as she became the latest Golden Ram to earn Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year recognition in back-to-back years.
LOOK AT THE LAKERS
Mercyhurst enters play on Friday following a narrow 2-1 victory over fourth-seed Seton Hill in the Quarterfinals on Monday afternoon. Mercyhurst never trailed on Monday, scoring first in the 22
nd minute when Corrine Morgan scored her 11th goal of the season before Paulina Harr doubled the lead in the 68th, giving the hosts a 2-0 lead. Seton Hill answered back just over a minute later, cutting the deficit to 2-1, but this was as close as the visiting Griffins would get, falling to the top-seeded Lakers by a 2-1 final.
Mercyhurst enters play on Friday afternoon with the second-best offense and second-best defense in the league, scoring 56 goals on the year, averaging just under three goals per game while limiting opponents to 10 goals, an average of just 0.53 per game. Maddie Elbro has turned in another stellar season in 2023, playing to a record of 16-2-1 with 10 solo shutouts (13 overall) and a 0.53 goals-against average. Elbro has not been put to work with great frequency this season, needing to make just 55 saves on the year, as her backline has done an excellent job of keeping chances from getting back to her.
Offensively, Morgan is the Lakers leading scorer and one of the most dangerous players in the league, entering play on Friday with 11 goals and seven assists for 29 points on the year. Karah Van Horn has again had a strong season, scoring eight goals and assisting on a team-best 11 others for 27 points of her own entering the semifinals. Mercyhurst has been very versatile this year offensively, as 16 players have scored this season, while Morgan, Van Horn, and Camille Bultel have accounted for 27 (11, 8, 6) of those goals.
WITH A WIN
With a victory, West Chester would advance back to the PSAC Championship game against the Gannon/Kutztown semifinal winner at 6 p.m. on Friday night. The Championship game will be played at Keystone Field on the campus of Kutztown University on Sunday afternoon beginning at 1 p.m.
