SHEPHERDSTOWN, WVA – West Chester University's women's lacrosse team will hit the road for a two-game stretch beginning Saturday at Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, W.Va. The Golden Rams will then travel to East Stroudsburg next Wednesday for a showdown with the Warriors at Whitenight Field.
West Chester (6-1, 2-0 PSAC East) is coming off a 14-12 victory over No. 15 Kutztown at home this past Wednesday. Freshman midfielder,
Marissa Herring led the way with a career-high five goals. Lila McMahon-Skates chipped in six points (3G, 3A) offensively as well.
West Chester is a perfect 9-0 against Shepherd (1-5, 0-2) in the all-time series that dates back to 2021 when the Shepherd Rams first played a league schedule in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC). The two were supposed to play in the spring of 2020, which technically was Shepherd's first year in the conference. However, that game was cancelled when the pandemic struck. The Golden Rams are a perfect 4-0 at Rams Stadium.
NCAA PSAC Value
Scoring Offense 12th 2nd 15.67
Scoring Margin 26th 3rd 4.5
Points Per Game 17th 4th 22.3
Caused Turnovers/Gm 10th 3rd 13.7
Clearing Pct. 36th 3rd .833
WEST CHESTER LAST TIME OUT …
Marissa Herring scored a season-high five goals while Lila McMahon-Skates scored three times and assisted on three others as host West Chester held off a late push from Kutztown to walk away from Vonnie Gros Field with a 14-12 victory on a sunny, but cold, Wednesday afternoon.
West Chester (6-1, 2-0 PSAC East) remained unbeaten in conference play while Kutztown fell to 5-3 overall and 1-2 in league play with the setback.
Herring's fifth goal of the game gave the Golden Rams a 13-10 advantage with just over five minutes left in the third quarter. But, Kutztown would not go away in the final frame, scoring back-to-back tallies with nine minutes to go in the contest to draw within one at 13-12.
Kendall Fortune gave the hosts some breathing room with four minutes to play on a free position attempt, and Herring came up with the ensuing draw control to help West Chester waste more time.
Kutztown threw the ball away twice in the last two minutes of the game, failing to clear the ball, and the Golden Rams emerged victorious of a ranked opponent for the third time this season.
A four-goal run by West Chester late in the second period turned a 5-5 tie into a 9-5 lead for the home team. That spurt was ignited by two player-up goals on the same penalty 49 seconds apart. Herring scored two of the four goals during the run.
McMahon-Skates assisted on three of Herring's five tallies on the afternoon. She also finished with four ground balls and a caused turnover.
Sydney Wasdick finished the day with two goals and one assist. She added two ground balls and three draw controls to the score sheet as well.
Gianna Booker potted a goal and an assist, but also caused a turnover and was responsible for four draw controls.
West Chester forced Kutztown into 26 turnovers in the game, including nine on failed clears. The Golden Rams' riding game was a big factor in gaining possessions despite the Bears holding a 17-10 advantage on draws. Edinger and Fortune each scored one goal and assisted on another.
Ava Sheeran scored a goal as well.
SHEPHERD LAST TIME OUT …
Brianna Gora scored four goals to lead Millersville to a 17-8 win over Shepherd in PSAC East women's lacrosse action at Millersville on Wednesday.
Freshman attacker Hadley Robertson had two goals and an assist, and sophomore midfielder Grace Lyon also tallied a pair of goals to lead the Rams. Lyon also tied Millersville's Mary Moraca with a game-high seven draw controls.
Senior attacker Holly Poe, senior attacker Rebekah Forney, sophomore attacker Kloey Batchellor, and sophomore midfielder Katherine Stevenson added single tallies.
Sophomore midfielder Britney Warner
recorded an assist. Sophomore defender Emily Meyer led the defense with three caused turnovers and a ground ball. Kayleigh Dunn and Shannon Meder each added three goals and an assist for the Marauders.
Freshman netminder Bailey Terry (2 saves, 9 GA, 35:23) and senior goalkeeper Destiny Rockwell (3 saves, 8 GA, 24:37) combined to record five saves for the Rams. KC O'Neill posted seven saves for the Marauders.
NEXT UP FOR WCU …
West Chester heads to East Stroudsburg next Wednesday for a 3:30 p.m. start against the Warriors.
