WEST CHESTER, PA – Timely saves and a stellar defensive effort helped No. 3 West Chester to a 12-9 victory over No. 5 Le Moyne on a very windy and cold Wednesday afternoon at Vonnie Gros Field.
West Chester (5-0) held Le Moyne (4-1) to its lowest goal output of the year by packing in the zone and defending the passing lanes as the Golden Rams passed its first big test of 2023 with defense leading the way.
Grace Frasso (Cinnaminson, N.J./Cinnaminson) scooped up six ground balls and caused four turnovers for the Golden Rams, who held Le Moyne to just 26 shots in the game – it's second-lowest game total of the year.
"(Le Moyne) is a very good team," West Chester head coach
Ginny Martino said. "This was a great test for us. Our matchups were perfect. Our kids had a really good understanding of what (Le Moyne) was looking for offensively and shifting. They played really well together back there."
"I'm really proud of this team today," Senior defender
Gillian Peters (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill West) said. "We've been working on locking onto our (opponent's attacker) in transition, and really just reading that pass and intercepting it."
The win ended a personal two-game losing streak to the Dolphins and marked West Chester's first victory in the series since 2012.
West Chester controlled 10 of 12 draws in the second half after building a three-goal lead that it took into halftime. Le Moyne did not score back-to-back goals until the final five minutes of the game when the Dolphins made their ill-fated comeback bid.
"That is a mind-set that we have been working on," Martino added. "How we respond when the other team scores is important. But, (Gorr) was very focused today. She was locked in and had a great game. She fires everybody up when she makes big saves.
Jessica Gorr (Exton, Pa./Bishop Shanahan) finished the day with 11 saves. Her counterpart, Le Moyne's Paige Crandall was credited with 12.
Keri Barnett (Glenolden, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) led West Chester with four goals.
Hannah Stanislawczyk (Mohnton, Pa./Gov. Mifflin) added three, including two up goals.
Lindsay Monigle (Rehoboth Beach, Del./Cape Henlopen) led all point-getter with six (2 goals, 4 assists). Stanislawczyk also contributed eight draw controls.
Le Moyne was paced by Jessica Meneilly's five goals. Sara Goodwin finished with four points (1 goal, 3 assists).
West Chester travels to Shippensburg University on Saturday at 1 p.m. as the Golden Rams return to conference play following its four-game non-league run.
