WEST CHESTER, Pa.- Lauren Reimold (Chester Springs, Pa./Downingtown East) scored in the final two minutes of the first half and
Kianna Barber (Browns Mills, N.J./BCIT) added a vital insurance goal late in the second half to lift the West Chester University women's soccer team (5-1-2, 3-1-2) to a 2-0 victory over East Stroudsburg (3-2-3, 2-2-3) on Wednesday afternoon.
West Chester applied relentless pressure to the ESU defense, outshooting its guests 13-0 overall and 8-0 in shots on goal through the first half of action. West Chester also ended the first half with a 4-0 lead in corners.
This pressure paid off in the 44
th minute when
Lauren Reimold (Chester Springs, Pa./Downingtown East) took a shot from distance off an assist from
Victoria Pungello (Jackson, N.J./Jackson Memorial) to give the Golden Rams a 1-0 lead. This late goal was also Reimold's first of her career.
East Stroudsburg ratcheted up its intensity offensively in the second half, taking seven shots in the second half with four of those chances going on goal, but
Grace Keen (Lincoln University, Pa./Avon Grove) was equal to the task, making four saves to slow the Warrior offense.
Kianna Barber (Browns Mills, N.J./BCIT) scored her fifth goal of the season in the waning minutes of the second half to give West Chester a 2-0 lead. For Barber, it was her team's leading fifth goal of the season and marked the fifth time in six games that the sophomore forward has scored a goal for the Golden Rams. This tally came after a late free kick from
Jenna Fox (Magnolia, Del./Polytech), which nearly curled its way into the goal but was punched away to the waiting Barber by a leaping Emmy Clarkson just before it could sneak in.
West Chester ended the game with a 23-7 lead in shots and a 14-4 lead in shots on goal, along with a 6-0 advantage in corner kicks.
Keen was excellent in goal for West Chester, making four second-half saves to earn her third shutout in a row. Clarkson was strong in goal for East Stroudsburg throughout the afternoon, making 12 saves, including five in the second half, to try and keep her side in the game.
With today's victory, West Chester is now on a four-game unbeaten streak and has recorded a shutout in each of its last three matches, all of which have been shutouts.
Up Next
West Chester will be back in action on Saturday at home against Shepherd, beginning at 12 p.m. Fans are encouraged to expect heavy traffic in the area and arrive early, as Saturday is Homecoming in West Chester, and the Golden Rams football team will face East Stroudsburg across the street in Farrell Stadium beginning at 2 p.m.
