WEST CHESTER, PA – West Chester University's women's lacrosse team welcomes in Bloomsburg University on Saturday afternoon for a conference tilt against the Huskies at Vonnie Gros Field at 1 p.m.
West Chester (7-2, 3-1) is ranked 10th in the most recent IWLCA coaches' poll while Bloomsburg (2-6, 1-3) is not ranked. The Golden Rams are coming off an 18-12 setback at No. 9 East Stroudsburg on Wednesday while the Huskies bring a two-game losing streak into today's Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference tilt. Bloomsburg is finishing up a three-game stretch has seen them take on East Stroudsburg, Kutztown and now West Chester consecutively. The Golden Rams will switch off and on with home games and road games from here on out until ending the regular season with two consecutive home contests.
McMAHON-SKATES AND KAUFFMAN SHARE OFFENSIVE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK HONORS
West Chester senior attacker,
Lila McMahon-Skates (West Linn, Ore./West Linn), was named co-offensive athlete of the week in the Eastern Division by the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tuesday afternoon. McMahon-Skates shared the honor with East Stroudsburg attacker Sadie Kauffman.
McMahon-Skates scored six goals and assisted on eight others for a total of 14 points in West Chester's two wins last week. McMahon-Skates scored three times and assisted on three others while scooping up four ground balls and causing one turnover in a win over No. 15 Kutztown on Wednesday. She then scored three more times at Shepherd on the weekend and added five assists for an eight-point game. The team co-captain runs the "X" behind the cage and currently leads the team in assists and is second in goals scored.
West Chester's high-scoring attacker joins fellow attacker,
Sydney Wasdick (Pottsgrove, Pa./Pottsgrove), as the Golden Rams' weekly honorees. Wasdick was offensive athlete of the week in Week 2. Kauffman earned her third offensive athlete of the week award this season. This is McMahon-Skates' first weekly citation in her four-year college career.
McMahon-Skates and Kauffman faceoff on Wednesday afternoon at Whitenight Field at 3 p.m. in a battle of two Top 10 programs. The two will also meet towards the end of the season in West Chester on April 22.
WEST CHESTER LAST TIME OUT …
West Chester was held to five goals in the second half as host East Stroudsburg strolled to an 18-12 victory in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division showdown of Top 10 programs at Whitenight Field Wednesday afternoon.
West Chester saw its seven-game winning streak come to a close while East Stroudsburg remained unbeaten on the season in the battle of conference powerhouse programs.
A goal from
Kendall Fortune (Jarrettsville, Md./North Harford) tied the game at 7-apiece in the last part of the second quarter. However, ESU went on a 3-0 run, aided by a pair of extra-attacker tallies, to close out the first half and swing the momentum in its favor, 10-7. West Chester never really seemed to recover from that spurt at the end of the first half.
The Warriors scored the first two goals of second half and opened up what turned out to be an insurmountable five-goal advantage. West Chester closed to within three (14-11) one minute into the fourth quarter. But, East Stroudsburg squashed any thoughts of a comeback with a 4-0 run to take an 18-11 lead.
The Golden Rams yielded four extra-attacker goals overall in the contest. The Warriors' All-American up top, Sadie Kauffman finished with seven goals and 10 points while adding eight draw controls for the hosts. Hannah Schiemer and Ariana Tucci each scored three times for ESU.
BLOOMSBURG LAST TIME OUT …
Bloomsburg opened strong and matched No. 15 Kutztown goal-for-goal in the first quarter, but a second-quarter surge by the Golden Bears proved to be the difference in a 21-9 PSAC East decision Wednesday afternoon at Steph Pettit Stadium.
Bloomsburg (2-6, 1-3 PSAC East) showed early offensive rhythm and composure, striking first and keeping pace with one of the conference's top teams throughout an evenly played opening frame. Delaney Fox ignited the Huskies with the game's first goal off an assist from Alexis Guzylak setting the tone for an aggressive attacking approach. Fox added a second tally on a free-position opportunity, while and Molly Clifford each found the back of the net to cap a four-goal opening quarter that ended tied at 4-4.
The Huskies' offense continued to generate quality chances throughout the contest, finishing with 25 shots and placing 19 on goal. Fox, Sitko, and Samantha Keck each scored twice to lead a balanced scoring effort, while Mikayla Viola, KaylaStressman and Clifford added goals to round out the attack. Sitko also contributed an assist in a three-point performance, continuing her steady play in the midfield.
NEXT UP FOR WCU …
West Chester travels to Shippensburg next Wednesday for a 3 p.m. start at Robb Sports Complex.
