SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.V.- The 16
th-ranked West Chester University women's soccer team (10-1-4, 7-1-4) visited Shepherd (6-1-6, 5-1-6) on Wednesday afternoon for an important PSAC East clash. West Chester stretched its unbeaten streak to 11 in a row but could not extend its winning streak to six as the host Rams scored with under five minutes to play in the match to escape with a 2-2 draw against the visiting Golden Rams.
With this result, West Chester and Shepherd end the season series with two draws against one another after a 1-1 draw in West Chester earlier in October. This result allows West Chester to maintain a four-point lead over Shepherd in the standings, while also stretching its lead over second-place Kutztown to three points, and holding a series sweep of the Golden Bears.
For the first time since its September 20 draw at Bloomsburg, West Chester found itself trailing just over five minutes into the first half when Josie Beezel scored off an assist from Sarah Peternel to give the Rams an early 1-0 lead.
Unfazed by its first deficit in over a month, West Chester tied the game just before halftime with a
Lauren Reimold (Chester Springs, Pa./Downingtown East) goal off assists from
Kianna Barber (Browns Mills, N.J./BCIT) and the reigning PSAC East Athlete of the Week,
Victoria Pungello (Jackson, N.J./Jackson Memorial).
Shepherd ended the first half with a slim 5-3 lead in shots, although shots on goal were even at 1-1, and West Chester held a slim 2-1 lead in corners.
Olivia Conroy (Toms River, N.J./Donovan Catholic) gave West Chester an early second-half lead with a goal off a corner to provide the visitors with a 2-1 lead in the 51
st minute.
Beezel nearly had her second of the day and the tying goal in the 56
th minute, but Keen made the stop to keep the newly found one-goal lead intact.
West Chester carried its 2-1 lead into the final seven minutes of the match before Reagan Acerkman found the tying goal for the host Rams off an assist from Gable to tie the match at 2-2 with just under five minutes to play.
Shepherd went searching for the game-winner late as Peternel got a shot on goal with just over a minute to play, but Keen was up to the task, making her third save of the afternoon to keep things tied at 2-2.
Shepherd controlled play throughout much of the afternoon on Wednesday, finishing the match with a 10-4 lead in shots, including a 5-2 lead in shots on goal, along with a 5-3 lead in corners.
Keen made three saves to extend her unbeaten streak to 11 games as her shutout and winning streak came to a close with the 2-2 draw.
Up Next
West Chester will be back in action on Saturday afternoon against Lock Haven, beginning at 2 p.m., on what will also be Senior Day for the Golden Rams. Fans are encouraged to arrive early as Senior Day will be held prior to the game, and increased traffic is expected due to the home football game vs Bloomsburg at 12 p.m.
