WEST CHESTER, Pa.- The West Chester University men's soccer team (8-5-3) wrapped up non-league play with a 2-1 victory over Holy Family (5-7-3) on Monday afternoon on Rockwell Field.
After a scoreless first half,
Ryan Rauber (Homer, N.Y./Tully Jr-Sr High) scored his first collegiate goal off an assist from
Jordan Cairns (Shillington, Pa./Governor Mifflin) in the 55
th minute to give the Golden Rams a 1-0 lead.
Mason Clatterbuck (Conshohocken, Pa./Plymouth Whitemarsh) doubled the lead just over two minutes later off an assist from
Zach Northey (Chadds Ford, Pa./Garnet Valley), giving the Golden Rams a comfortable 2-0 lead with just over 32 minutes to play.
Holy Family mounted a comeback and won four consecutive corners in a two-minute span, which eventually resulted in a goal as Jackson Kiss finished off the fourth corner attempt from Hugo Gutierrez to cut the Golden Ram lead in half.
Moments later,
Peter Tichy (Bethlehem, Pa./Freedom) nearly restored a two-goal lead with a shot on a quick restart off a free kick, but a lunging Bruno Mestres saved his chance to keep the deficit at one.
Rafael Gouvea had an excellent chance for Holy Family in the 84
th minute as he took a rocket of a shot from the top of the box that beat everything except the crossbar as the Golden Rams were able to hold on for the 2-1 victory.
Mestres was the star of the game for Holy Family, making nine saves to slow the Golden Ram offense throughout the afternoon.
West Chester used three keepers in the victory as
Jaden Howard (Townsend, Del./Middletown) got the start and made one save in the first 32 minutes before
Caleb Addalia (Ellicott City, Md./Centennial) entered for the next 31 and made two saves.
Michael Sarff (Camp Hill, Pa./Camp Hill) finished the game in goal, playing the final 29 minutes and allowing one goal, but also made a team-best three saves in the non-league victory.
West Chester ended the match with a 22-13 lead in shots and an 11-7 lead in shots on goal, despite Holy Family finishing the afternoon with a slim 9-8 lead in corners.
Up Next
West Chester will fight for its season on Thursday afternoon as the Golden Rams welcome Shippensburg to Rockwell Field, beginning at 1 p.m., in need of a win to punch their ticket back to the PSAC Tournament.
