WEST CHESTER, Pa.- Searching for a win to improve its NCAA Tournament resume, the West Chester University women's soccer team (10-6-1, 9-6-1) hosted No. 14 Shepherd (13-1-4, 13-1-2) on a perfect fall afternoon on Rockwell Field. West Chester dominated the second half of play, outshooting its guests 8-1 in the final 45 minutes, but an early first-half goal by Shepherd lifted the Rams to a 1-0 victory over the Golden Rams on Saturday afternoon.
Sarah Peternel gave Shepherd an early lead, scoring on a beautiful header off a cross-in from Adrianna Morales to provide the 14th-ranked Rams with an early 1-0 lead.
West Chester had a chance later in the first half to tie the game going into the break.
Faith Matter (Middletown, Pa./Middletown) created another turnover in the midfield and got in all alone on the Shepherd keeper, but her chance rang the post, and her follow-up shot slipped just wide to keep the Golden Rams off the scoreboard.
Despite trailing 1-0 at the half, West Chester ended the first half with a 5-4 lead in shots.
West Chester upped its pressure significantly in the second half and held its nationally ranked guests to just one shot while taking eight of its own, ending the contest with a 13-5 lead in shots and a 5-3 lead in shots on goal.
West Chester threatened throughout the second half, putting continual pressure on the Shepherd defense. This included a rocket off a free kick by
Kaitlynn Haughey (Philadelphia, Pa./Penn Charter), which went just wide, and a chance from just outside the box by Matter, which slipped high.
Entering the late stages of the second half, the Golden Ram bench erupted when it appeared as if a handball had occurred in the Shepherd box following a pass back to the Rams keeper. However, it was ruled play-on, and the chance for a potentially game-tying penalty kick went by the wayside.
West Chester continued its offensive pressure in the final 20 minutes of the match. Still, Shepherd keeper Hannah Wilt was up to the task, finishing the game with five saves while also directing the swarming Shepherd defense as the Rams escaped Rockwell with a narrow 1-0 victory.
Grace Keen (Lincoln University, Pa./Avon Grove) made two first-half saves in the setback.
Up Next:
West Chester will be back in action in the PSAC Quarterfinals at home on Tuesday afternoon against Kutztown beginning at 1 p.m.
