WEST CHESTER, PA –
Caitlynn Szarko (Eldersburg, Md./Liberty) scored the lone goal of the game early in the second quarter and the Golden Rams made it hold up en route to a 1-0 conference victory over visiting Mansfield on a brisk Homecoming Night Saturday at Vonnie Gros Field.
With Vonnie Gros herself on hand, along with members of the 1974 squad celebrating their 50th class reunion on Homecoming, West Chester (11-5, 4-3 PSAC) slid into a three-way tie for fourth place in the league standings with both Bloomsburg (12-4, 4-3) and Mansfield (10-6, 4-3) . All three schools are just one-half game behind Kutztown for third place as well.
One more week, which brings with it two more conference matchups, remains in the regular season and the Golden Rams have positioned themselves for a shot at a home game in the first round of the PSAC Tournament. That will all shake out one week from tonight when the final regular season standings are determined.
In the first minute of the second quarter,
Veerle Hersman (Lisse, The Netherlands Rijnlands Lyceum Sassenheim) intercepted a mishandled lift pass out of the zone by a Mansfield defender on a restart and hit Szarko cutting to the net. Szarko blasted a shot past Mountaineers goalkeeper, August Lewis, for the only tally of the game and her third of the season.
West Chester applied constant pressure all evening, outshooting Mansfield by a 21-5 margin. The Mounties only got two shots on the Golden Rams' cage. Both were turned aside by
Ryan Curley (Malvern, Pa./Great Valley). West Chester also held an 11-2 advantage in corners.
Mansfield goalkeeper August Lewis made eight saves in the loss.
West Chester travels to East Stroudsburg next Tuesday, before closing out the regular season at Frostburg State next Friday. The PSAC Tournament will begin the following week with a pair of quarterfinal round matches on Monday, Nov. 4.
