WEST CHESTER, PA – Host West Chester scored a pair of goals in the opening quarter and then held on late for a 2-1 victory over visiting Bloomsburg in a non-league field hockey contest under the lights at Vonnie Gros Field Friday evening.
West Chester (3-1) increased its win streak to three straight since a season-opening setback to Assumption while putting an end to a consecutive shutout string of just over 202 minutes by Bloomsburg (4-1). It also put an end to the Huskies' four-game win streak to open the campaign.
Freshman
Veerle Hersman (Lisse, The Netherlands) knocked home a rebound off the left post in the eighth minute as the Golden Rams' struck first. Then, West Chester forced a penalty corner with three seconds left in the opening quarter and converted in the extra time.
Ella Shockley's (Delmar, Del./Delmar) slapshot from the top of the circle beat Bloomsburg goalie Jackie Nevel, doubling the Golden Rams' lead.
That is how things stayed until a furious rally at the end of the game saw the Huskies cut the deficit in half and threaten in extra time as well. Kate Ferguson tipped home a shot off a penalty corner in the 59th minute to spoil West Chester goalkeeper
Ryan Curley's (Malvern, Pa./Great Valley) shutout bid. But the visitors weren't done.
Bloomsburg pinned the Golden Rams down in the far corner in their own end for the remainder of the contest and forced another penalty corner with three seconds left in the game. On that opportunity, the Huskies forced a second corner, but could not capitalize, sending a sigh of relief down West Chester's entire bench.
Curley made six saves in the game, including one on a penalty stroke awarded to Bloomsburg in the first quarter, to pick up her 20th career win. Her kick save popped straight up into the air, and Curley batted it away with her blocker.
West Chester returns home next Tuesday for another mid-week, non-league affair, with rival Millersville.
