MANSFIELD, Pa.- The West Chester University women's soccer team (6-1-3) will put its winning streak on the line once again when the Golden Rams visit Mansfield (0-7-0) on Saturday afternoon for a 1 p.m. start. Normally a league clash, this year's matchup between the Golden Rams and Mountaineers will go in the books as a non-league tilt after the Mounties requested a schedule adjustment from the PSAC office due to low roster numbers in 2025.
West Chester at Mansfield
Match Details: October 11 I 1 P.M.
Location: Mansfield Soccer Field (Mansfield, Pa.)
Series: 29-0-2
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Last Time Out
West Chester stretched its unbeaten streak to five in a row and has now recorded a shutout in four of five games dating back to its 1-0 victory over Kutztown on September 24, with its 1-0 win over Millersville on Wednesday afternoon. West Chester's victory on Wednesday also gave the Golden Rams a measure of revenge for their lone loss of the season to date, a 2-1 setback at Millersville in mid-September.
Lindsay Balmer (Perkasie, Pa./Pennridge) scored the eventual game-winner with just over 12 minutes to play until halftime off a stellar assist from
Faith Matter (Middletown, Pa./Middletown), who evaded multiple Millersville defenders before finding her cutting teammate. West Chester ended the game with a 17-12 lead in shots and a 9-2 lead in corners, although Millersville posted a 6-5 lead in shots on goal.
Grace Keen (Lincoln University, Pa./Avon Grove) was excellent in goal, making six saves, including five in the second half, to earn her seventh shutout and sixth win of the season.
Flock Talk
Kianna Barber (Browns Mills, N.J./BCIT) leads West Chester in scoring with six goals and one assist for 13 points, while Matter is second in scoring with three goals and a team-best four assists for 10 points on the season. Balmer moved into a tie with Matter for second on the team in goals with her third of the year yesterday and is now third on the team in scoring with three goals and one assist for seven points.
In goal, Keen is 6-1-3 with seen shutouts and a 0.41 goals-against average in 879 minutes of action in goal. The junior has made 41 saves and has played all but the 22 minutes that
Sam Hollish (Horsham, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham) played in relief in the win at Lock Haven in late September.
Series History
West Chester improved to 29-0-2 vs Mansfield last fall with a season sweep of the Mounties, including a 5-0 win in Mansfield and a 6-0 win on Rockwell in mid-October. West Chester has not finished a game against Mansfield with anything but a win since a 1-1 draw in Mansfield during the September 2021 season.
West Chester was to face Mansfield in its second PSAC East game of the year earlier this season, but the league office canceled that game in response to a request from Mansfield to play a reduced schedule due to low roster sizes.
We Are Honored
Barber repeated as PSAC East Athlete of the Week this week after scoring two more goals a week ago against Millersville and Shepherd.
Moving on Up
Keen moved into a tie for fifth in team history in shutouts on Wednesday with her six-save effort against Millersville. Keen now has 24 shutouts in her career and is tied with Hayley McGee for fifth in team history. Next on the shutout chart for the junior Keeper is Hilary Smart, who recorded 27 from 2005-08.
Rank and File
West Chester continues to receive votes this week and, after its win over Millersville on Wednesday, may have the chance to break back into the top-25 when the latest poll is announced next week.
Up Next
West Chester will return home next Saturday to take on Shippensburg beginning at 12 p.m.
