West Chester Heads to Kutztown for PSAC Semifinals Friday

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WEST CHESTER, PA – West Chester University's field hockey squad once again earned its nickname as the 'Cardiac Kids' by coming from behind early to defeat IUP and advance to the conference semifinals of the 2025 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Postseason Tournament this weekend.
 
West Chester (13-5) will head to Kutztown University on Friday, Nov. 7 for a 3 p.m. semifinal against No. 1 ranked, and No. 1 seeded, Kutztown (18-0). The other semifinal pits No. 3-seeded Shippensburg (15-3) against No. 2 seeded East Stroudsburg (16-2) which will take place after the West Chester-Kutztown game. The two winners of the semifinals will advance to the PSAC Championship Game, which will be played on Sunday at 12 p.m. at Andre Reed Stadium.
 
Tickets to the PSAC Postseason Tournament are $12 for adults and $7 for students in grades K-12. Admission is free for students from member institutions with valid school ID. No complimentary tickets will be available. Only PSAC passes will be accepted.
 
This will be a cashless event. All Sales Final - No Refunds. Tickets can only be purchased via Hudl Tickets HERE. It is advised to purchase tickets prior to arriving, however, tickets will be available for purchase on site.
 
Fans who cannot make it to the PSAC Semifinals or Championship Game on the campus of Kutztown University can watch all the action live on the PSAC Digital Sports Network mobile app that is available for free in the app stores on Apple and Android devices.
 
West Chester is making its 10th appearance in the PSAC Semifinals after stringing together nine straight trips from 2012 to 2021. There was no tournament in 2020.
 
Cohen is 15-8 overall in the PSAC Tournament and has won the conference title four times (2012, 2014, 2017, 2018). West Chester is 2-4 on the road in the tournament and 5-4 in the semifinal round. The Golden Rams are 2-1 all-time against Kutztown in the postseason with a 2-1 win in 2015 that was also played at Kutztown.
 
West Chester has reached the PSAC Championship Game twice when beginning the postseason in the quarterfinal round. The Golden Rams won three straight playoff games in 2017 to take the conference crown, and then won their first two playoff games in 2021 before dropping the title game. The Golden Rams ended a three-game losing streak in the PSAC Tournament with the 3-2 double-overtime win over IUP on Tuesday.
 
For West Chester, 13 players on the current roster had postseason experience before Tuesday's quarterfinal win over IUP. Ella Shockley and Kennedy Graham each made their third playoff appearance earlier this week. Shockley has started all three of her playoff games. Shockley's OT game-winner was the first postseason goal of her career. Caitlynn Szarko and Veerle Hersman also notched their first career playoff markers in Tuesday's win.
 
PSAC QUARTERFINAL RECAP
Host West Chester erased a two-goal deficit early to come from behind and defeat visiting IUP, 3-2, in double overtime in the quarterfinals of the 2025 PSAC Field Hockey Tournament at Vonnie Gros Field Tuesday evening. Ella Shockley (Delmar, DE/Delmar) scored the game-winning goal on a penalty corner in the 78th minute.
 
"When I looked up, I realized that nobody was coming out to me, and IUP had a wall between me and Caitlynn and (Alexa Lehman)," Shockley said. "So, I had to go with what they were giving me, and I shot."
 
Goalkeeper Alina Burger (Koenigs Wusterhausen, Brandenburg, Germany) finished the game with 10 saves in 68 minutes of work without allowing a goal. She earned the win in the process. Audra Symborski (Furlong, Pa./Central Bucks East) made one save before being relieved by Burger. Midfielder, Lana Hughes (Center Valley, Pa./Southern Lehigh) made one clutch defensive save early in the second overtime to preserve the tie.
 
"Coach wouldn't call my number if she didn't trust me," Burger said. "So, I took the field with confidence.
 
"Audra and I always try to encourage one another. She told me to keep the cage clean. The last time that I came into a game for her, coach went back to her later in the game. So, I told (Audra) to stay focused and be ready. That's how we help each other."
 
The Crimson Hawks switched their tactics over the last 10 minutes, firing off nine shots in an attempt to regain its lead. However, Burger steered aside all seven of the shots that made their way on goal to keep the game even.
 
"IUP was taking shot after shot," Burger added. "But, it's easier for me to stay in the game mentally when that's happening. When the shooting is spaced out, it's more difficult to stay sharp."