West Chester vs Shepherd
Game Details: October 5 I 2:30 P.M.
Location: Rockwell Field (West Chester, Pa.)
Coverage Links: Live Stats I Video
Series: 27-20-6
WCU Links: NEWS I ROSTER I SCHEDULE I STATS
Shepherd Links: NEWS I ROSTER I SCHEDULE I STATS
Last Time Out
On Wednesday afternoon, West Chester put together one of its most complete efforts of the season as the Golden Rams dominated Millersville throughout the afternoon and captured a 3-0 victory over the Marauders. Tommy Bodenschatz (Royersford, Pa./Spring-Ford) scored the eventual game-winner late in the first half, and Devven Frey (Wyomissing, Pa./Wilson) and Cooper Jackson (Sinking Spring, Pa./Wilson) scored in the final 10 minutes to extend the lead to 3-0. Jaden Howard (Townsend, Del./Middletown) was outstanding in goal, making 10 saves to capture his third shutout of the year and move to 3-1-1 on the year with a 1.00 goals-against average.
Flock Talk
Maksym Komperda (Whitehall, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic) remains the teams leading scorer on the year with four goals and one assist for nine points, while Frey and Tichy are tied for second with eight points with three goals and two assists each.
In goal, Howard has split duties with Alexi Amanatidis (Huntingdon Valley, Pa./The Shipley School) throughout the year as Howard shows his record of 3-1-1 with three shutouts, while Amanatidis is 2-1-1 with a 2.00 goals-against average in his four starts between the pipes.
Finding Firepower
In years gone by, West Chester relied heavily on the outstanding play of keeper Daniel Good to win games as Good ended his career with WCU records in wins, shutouts, and goals-against average. While the efforts of Howard and Amanatidis have been plenty serviceable for West Chester this season, the Golden Rams have found some extra offensive firepower, scoring 19 goals through the first nine games of the season. A year ago, West Chester appeared in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019 and PSAC Championship game for the first time since 2018 despite only scoring 30 goals on the year, a mark, which West Chester is already closing in on in 2024. West Chester has scored three or more goals in four games this season and is unbeaten in those games, while playing to a record of 1-2-2 in games in which the team scores one goal or less.
Home Cooking
Saturday afternoon’s game is the second game of a four-game homestand and one of just four regular season home games remaining for the Golden Rams. West Chester is 3-0-1 at home this season and is a solid 18-7-5 at home since the 2021 season.
Series History
History opposite Shepherd is relatively limited for the Golden Rams as the two sides did not begin facing each other on a regular basis as conference foes until 2019. West Chester is 9-3-0 all-time vs Shepherd and is currently on a nine-game winning streak dating back to October 31, 2013, when the Golden Rams won by a 7-1 final on Rockwell.
Scouting Shepherd
Shepherd enters the weekend with a record of 3-3-2 overall and a mark of 1-3 in league play after a 2-0 win over Shippensburg to open October at home on Wednesday afternoon. Luke Barger gave Shepherd a one-goal lead early in the second half, and Josue Guzman added a goal of his own in the 85th minute. This goal, along with four saves by Aidan Houck, was enough to lead the Rams to victory on Wednesday afternoon.
Donik Elshani leads the way offensively for Shepherd with a team-best seven points (three goals/one assist) on the year, including the game-winner vs Wheeling on September 14. In goal, Houck has played well throughout the year and is 3-3-1 in goal with a 0.86 goals-against average and three shutouts, including the victory over Shippensburg. Shepherd has allowed just two goals in its last three games and has allowed more than one once this season in a 3-1 loss at East Stroudsburg on September 21.
