KUTZTOWN, Pa.- The sixth-seeded West Chester University women's soccer team (13-2-3) is finishing its preparations for its 2026 NCAA Tournament opener against third-seeded Fairmont State (16-2-3) at Kutztown on Friday afternoon at 12 p.m. Making its 19
th appearance in 20 seasons under head coach
Betty Ann Kempf Townsley, the Golden Rams will look for an upset-win on Friday afternoon to extend its season and potentially earn a rematch with the second-seeded Golden Bears should they defeat Point Park in their opening game later on Friday afternoon.
#6 West Chester vs #3 Fairmont State
Game Details: November 13 – 12 P.M. | Keystone Field (Kutztown, Pa.)
Series: 1-0
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Fan Information
Parking: Fans should look first for parking in the E2 lot on Baldy Street on the Kutztown campus when arriving for games this weekend. Keystone Arena is under renovation throughout the 2026-27 year, so parking in the E1 lot will be limited to VIP/Pre-approved parking only.
Tickets: Fans can purchase tickets online via this
link. Prices are set at $15 for adults and $5 for students with ID, senior citizens, and children ages 5-12.
5 Things to Know
- West Chester returns to the NCAA Tournament in 2026 for the 19th time in 20 seasons under Kempf Townsley in search of its ninth Atlantic Regional Championship in program history and its eighth under Kempf Townsley after securing its first Regional Crown since 2022 a season ago with a 1-0 win over Shepherd. Kempf Townsley is 28-16-9 in NCAA Tournament play after going 3-1-0 a year ago and has not suffered an Opening Round exit since a 2-1 overtime loss to East Stroudsburg at West Virginia Wesleyan in 2015.
- West Chester is meeting Fairmont State on the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament for the second year in a row after handing the Falcons a 2-0 loss on Rockwell Field in the Regional Semifinals last November en route to its Regional Championship. In this meeting, Lindsay Balmer (Perkasie, Pa./Pennridge) gave West Chester the lead in the 32nd minute off an assist by Faith Matter before Victoria Pungello added an insurance goal in the 84th minute to finish off a 2-0 victory for the Golden Rams. Grace Keen (Lincoln University, Pa./Avon Grove) made six saves, including five in the second half, for one of her program-record 36 career shutouts.
- The Golden Rams enter play on Friday after playing to a draw in each of their two PSAC Tournament games, advancing past Seton Hill on PKs after a scoreless draw with the Griffins before falling to Slippery Rock in PKs after a 1-1 draw, with an Adriana Ryder (Hamilton, N.J./Steinert) goal erasing an early deficit. Kianna Barber (Browns Mills, N.J./BCIT) remains the Golden Rams' leading scorer with seven goals and seven assists for 21 points, while Ryder has six goals and five assists for 17 points, with a team-best four game-winning goals in addition to her tying goal against the Rock in the PSAC Semifinals last Friday. Keen is 13-2-3 in goal with a 0.36 goals-against average and a hand in 11 shutouts, including eight solo shutouts, which helped her break the WCU and PSAC career shutout records with her 36th in the draw vs. Seton Hill earlier in November.
- Fairmont State, who looked as if it may be one of the two teams hosting the opening rounds this weekend heading into Championship Sunday, enters play on Friday looking to bounce back after a 4-1 loss at Frostburg State in the Mountain East Conference Championship match on Sunday. Arrington Sparks gave the Fighting Falcons an early 1-0 lead with a goal in the 11th minute, but Frostburg State responded with four unanswered goals, including three in a 20-minute span later in the first half, to roll to a 4-1 victory. Sam Yuen and Serenity Thomas are first and second in scoring, with six goals and four assists for 16 points and five goals and two assists for 12 points, respectively. Sparks and Payton Parliament are tied for third on the team in goals with four each, with three and two assists for 11 and 10 points, respectively. In goal, Olivia Johnston is a familiar face between the pipes as she enters Friday with a 16-2-3 record and a 0.78 goals-against average, including eight shutouts.
- The other half of the bracket features Kutztown, who also made a PSAC Semifinal exit with a loss to Gannon against first-time NCAA Tournament participant Point Park, who was eligible for the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 2026 after transitioning into Division II from the NAIA ranks.
With a Win
With a victory over the Fighting Falcons on Friday afternoon, West Chester will advance to the Regional Semifinals against the winner of Kutztown/Point Park on Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. The Golden Rams are the reigning Atlantic Regional Champions and are in search of their ninth Atlantic Regional Championship and eighth under head coach
Betty Ann Kempf Townsley.
