WEST CHESTER, Pa.- After earning its first home victory of the season on Saturday vs California (Pa.), the West Chester University men's soccer team (4-2-1, 1-0-0) returned to Rockwell Field on Wednesday afternoon searching for another victory to open PSAC East play against archrival Millersville (3-3-2, 0-1-0). West Chester got out to an early lead but it was a
Peter Tichy (Bethlehem, Pa./Freedom) goal in the second half, which made the difference as the Golden Rams defeated Millersville by a 2-1 final on Wednesday afternoon.
Joseph Maxwell (Langhorne, Pa./Neshaminy) scored the first goal of the game just over eight minutes in, finishing a perfect pass from
Luke Newman (Mission Viejo, Ca./Santa Margarita Catholic) to give West Chester an early 1-0 lead.
Millersville countered with a goal of its own just four minutes later when Brian O'Neill finished an assist from Zander Leik to tie the score at 1-1.
The first half continued to be reminiscent of a track meet, with the two teams going up and down the field at a rapid pace. This brisk pace led to the shots being tied at 4-4 at halftime, although West Chester held a 2-1 lead in shots on goal and a 4-2 lead in corners.
In the second half, physicality ramped up as did offensive opportunities for the Marauders, as 12 fouls were called between the two teams, and Millersville outshot its hosts 9-4, including a 4-1 advantage in shots on goal, while also ending the half with a 2-1 lead in corners.
West Chester needed only one shot on target in the second half to break the 1-1 draw as
Peter Tichy (Bethlehem, Pa./Freedom) finished a bouncing ball in the box off a free kick from
Owen Slack (Collegeville, Pa./Perkiomen Valley) from just inside midfield to give West Chester a 2-1 lead with just under 15 minutes to play in regulation.
Tichy's 75th-minute goal was his second of the year and was also Slack's third assist of the season as he moved into second on the team in points with seven.
West Chester held off a late push by the Marauders, clearing the ball away from danger consistently through the final 10 minutes to open league play with a 2-1 victory over its rival.
With its victory this afternoon, West Chester has now won its PSAC opener every season since 2015, when the team fell to Mercyhurst by a 3-2 final in double overtime, marking one of just two league-play opening setbacks for the Golden Rams under head coach
Michael Benn.
This afternoon's victory also gives West Chester its second home victory over Millersville in as many tries as the team vanquished the Marauders by a 3-0 final on Rockwell Field on October 2
nd of last season.
Millersville ended the game with a 13-8 lead in shots and a 5-3 lead in shots on goal, while also posting a 5-4 lead in corners.
Jaden Howard (Townsend, Del./Middletown) made four saves in the second half of the 2-1 victory to silent the Marauder offense down the stretch.
Up Next
West Chester will be back in action on Saturday night at Bloomsburg beginning at 6 p.m.
