SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.V.- Maksym Komperda (Whitehall, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic) scored three goals in the first half to become the first Golden Ram since Doug Goitia in 2018 to record a hat trick as the senior helped lead the West Chester men's soccer team (7-4-6, 6-3-1) to a 3-0 win over Shepherd (9-4-3, 4-4-2) and a share of the PSAC East Regular Season title.

Komperda's early goal scoring helped West Chester sweep the season series from Shepherd and, in doing so, gave West Chester a share of the PSAC East Regular Season title along with Millersville. This marks the first time that West Chester has captured at least a share of the Regular Season title since 2018, when the Golden Rams were the outright Champions for the second year in a row. With this, West Chester will host a home PSAC Quarterfinal once again in 2026 as the Golden Rams will welcome third-seeded Seton Hill to Rockwell Field on Sunday afternoon beginning at 1 p.m. Important fan information, including ticketing information, will be made available tomorrow morning.

Komperda scored his first goal of the game in the 26^th minute off a Luke Newman (Mission Viejo, Ca./Santa Margarita Catholic) assist before adding goals in the 33^rd and 42^nd minutes off assists from Peter Tichy (Bethlehem, Pa./Freedom) and Joshua Rick (Berwyn, Pa./Devon Prep) as the visiting Golden Rams carried a 3-0 lead into the halftime break.

Komperda is just the third Golden Ram in the last 10 seasons to record a hat trick, joining Doug Goitia (9/21/18) and Tyler Rapposelli (9/22/17), who both did so against Pitt-Johnstown.

West Chester finished the game with an 11-9 lead in shots, including an 8-6 lead in shots on goal, despite Shepherd finishing the match with a 5-2 lead in corners.

Jaden Howard (Townsend, Del./Middletown) earned the win and shutout in goal for West Chester, making six saves, while his counterpart, Aidan Houck, was credited with five stops in the loss.

Shepherd had also punched its ticket to the PSAC Tournament earlier this month, and the Rams will enter as the fourth seed from the PSAC East and travel to top-seed Gannon on Sunday for a PSAC Quarterfinal beginning at 1 p.m. With a win over Seton Hill, West Chester will face the winner of this match on Wednesday afternoon at 1 p.m., with a ticket to the PSAC Championship game on Sunday afternoon at the home of the highest remaining Eastern Division team, beginning at 1 p.m.