EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa.- Needing a win or draw to punch in its regular-season finale to punch its ticket back to the PSAC Tournament in 2024, the West Chester University men's soccer team (8-6-3, 5-4-1) returned to action on Friday night against East Stroudsburg (8-4-5, 4-3-3) as the Warriors looked for a win to eliminate West Chester and advance to the PSAC Tournament in the Golden Rams place.
Jaden Howard (Townsend, Del./Middletown) was excellent in goal, making several clutch saves with perhaps none more significant than his stop on a late Warrior penalty kick with under seven minutes to play as he helped lead West Chester to a 0-0 draw at East Stroudsburg on Friday night.
With Millersville's victory over Bloomsburg earlier this evening, the Marauders secured the second seed in the PSAC Tournament. They will host West Chester on Monday night in a PSAC East Quarterfinal beginning at 6 p.m.
With just over six minutes to play in regulation, Howard made a season-saving save on a penalty kick attempt by Ignasi Cucurella Tuset as the sophomore keeper lunged to the right to keep the match scoreless.
The Warriors generated a final chance in the final seconds of regulation. The hosts had an opportunity to score on an open net following a diving stop by Howard with under 30 seconds to play. Still, the chance soared high again as West Chester survived the upset-minded Warriors to come away with a 0-0 draw and punch its ticket back to the PSAC Tournament in 2024.
East Stroudsburg ended the match with a 12-4 lead in shots, including a 3-2 edge in shots on goal and a 7-1 lead in corner kicks. Howard was credited with three saves in the draw, while his counterpart, Kevin Kretschman, made two stops of his own in the finale.
Up Next:
West Chester will visit Millersville on Monday night for a PSAC Quarterfinal, a rematch of the 2018 and 2023 PSAC Championship games, beginning at 6 p.m.
