No. 6 West Chester Blanks No. 5 Bloomsburg, 2-0

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WEST CHESTER, PA – Veerle Hersman (The Netherlands) scored both goals as host West Chester shut out visiting Bloomsburg, 2-0, in a pivotal conference matchup at Vonnie Gros Field Wednesday evening.
 
West Chester (10-4, 5-2 PSAC) applied pressure throughout and dictated the pace of the game in picking up a big win over Bloomsburg (12-3, 4-3) to remain in a tie for second place in the league standings with one week left in the regular season.
 
With the first week of the NCAA regional rankings depicting both West Chester and Bloomsburg among the seven teams being considered for the postseason, the game had much more riding on it than just placement in the conference tournament next month.
 
The Golden Rams limited the Huskies' opportunities all evening, making it difficult for the visitors to really get much going offensively. Bloomsburg mustered 11 shots in the game, but the real story was that only five made it on goal. Forward Genna Bush, who came into the contest leading Division II in goals scored, was held to just one shot in the game. West Chester's defense shut down the center of the circle, providing the Huskies just low-percentage shots from the wing.
 
Hersman drew first blood in the 22nd minute when she scored off a penalty corner with an assist from Laura Rogers (Delmar, Del./Delmar). In the 38th minute, Hersman struck again when Gianna Funari (Voorhees, N.J./Bishop Eustace) fired a shot on goal off another corner. The rebound found Hersman's stick, who then maneuvered past a defender and blasted a shot past Bloomsburg goalie Maura Greek to the stick side.
 
That was all the offense West Chester needed.
 
Bloomsburg finally pushed forward in the final four minutes looking to cut into West Chester's two-goal lead. The Huskies' best opportunity came off a corner with just under four minutes to play. However, Raegan Iasiello's slap shot hit a stick in front, popped up into the air where West Chester's Sofia Brown (Broomall, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) took a softball swing at the ball and cleared it out of the circle.
 
Golden Rams' goalkeeper, Audra Szymborski (Furlong, Pa./Central Bucks East) logged her first shutout of the season and ninth in her college career by making four saves.
 
West Chester travels to Slippery Rock on Saturday for a 12 p.m. start against The Rock at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.