SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV –
Meg O'Donnell (Hatboro, Pa./Upper Moreland) registered a career-high four goals, and the Golden Rams overcame a sluggish start, to come from behind and defeat host Shepherd 20-9 in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) women's lacrosse match Tuesday afternoon.
West Chester trailed unranked Shepherd, 4-1, early on and, 4-3, after the first quarter. However, head coach
Ginny Martino regrouped at the break, and her squad settled down to outscore the Rams 9-2 in the second frame to open things up.
Sophomore
Alexis Smallwood (Margate City, N.J./Ocean City) notched her first career hat trick with three tallies in the first half. All three markers came during a critical 8-1 run that put West Chester in front for good at 9-5, giving the visitors some much-needed breathing room. All-America midfielder
Hannah Stanislawczyk (Mohnton, Pa./Gov. Mifflin) posted a hat trick of her own to spark the Golden Rams' offense.
Despite a decided advantage in possession time, West Chester found itself behind by a goal after the first 15 minutes of the game had expired. The Golden Rams improved their play in the defensive end following the opening quarter to the season, and applied pressure on its rides, to gain control of the match rather quickly in the second.
Fellow All-American midfielder,
Keri Barnett (Glenolden, Pa./Archbishop Carroll), posted a hat trick with a pair of goals in the second half. Grad student
Lindsay Monigle (Rehoboth Beach, Del./Cape Henlopen) finished the day with three goals and five assists for an eight-point afternoon. Smallwood added three assists for a six-point day as well.
Fifth-year senior transfer,
Brenna Smith (Upper Arlington, Ohio/Upper Arlington) scored her 100th career goal and first as a Golden Ram at the end of the first half. She added another in the second half as well.
Eliza Enriquez (Shillington, Pa./Gov. Mifflin) scored her first career goal off an assist from fellow freshman
Madeline Edinger (Perkasie, Pa./Pennridge) in the final minute of the contest to round out the scoring.
Senior goalkeeper,
Jessica Gorr (Exton, Pa./Bishop Shanahan), made eight saves in the cage for West Chester. Shepherd's goalie, Hailey Bennett, stopped 14 shots by the Golden Rams in a stellar performance.
West Chester opens its home slate this Saturday when it welcomes Bentley to Vonnie Gros Field. Game time is set for 1 p.m. Before Saturday's game, the Golden Rams will play tribute to former teammate
Julia Rossi, who passed away unexpectedly last November.
