WEST CHESTER, PA – Assumption scored the lone goal in the second quarter and made it stand up to earn a 1-0 victory over West Chester in the season opener for both schools.
West Chester held an advantage in shots, but Assumption's goalkeeper, Paige Gillette, was up to the task in making nine saves to backstop the fourth-ranked Greyhounds to their first win over the Golden Rams in five career meetings.
West Chester was plagued by miscues all evening, holding a 9-0 margin on penalty corners, but not even producing a shot on four of the nine attempts.
The Greyhounds' Elle Murray swept a shot into an open net in the 22nd minute while on the turf for the match's lone tally. Assumption's Mia Salah beat a West Chester defender on a transition break that forced the Golden Rams' keeper to charge the play. Salah fed Murray in the middle of the circle before
Ryan Curley (Malvern, Pa./Great Valley) could get to her. Murray fell trying to adjust to the pass, but managed to get enough of her stick on the sweep to knock the ball into an empty cage.
The Golden Rams pressured late in the fourth quarter.
Jasmine Miller (Millersville, Pa./Penn Manor) broke in on a 2-on-1 with
Paige Wolfe (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown East), but a reverse chip was saved by Gillette. West Chester forced four penalty corners in the final minutes, but could not capitalize on any either.
Curley was credited with a pair of saves in the loss. Assumption took just seven shots in the game with three on goal. The Greyhounds just capitalized on their one quality opportunity.
West Chester returns home on Sunday afternoon for another non-conference tilt against Bentley University at Vonnie Gros Field at 1 p.m.
