KUTZTOWN, PA – West Chester opened a large lead with a 6-1 run in the second quarter to eventually walk past host Kutztown, 18-4, on a Sunny, but windy Wednesday afternoon at Keystone Field.
With the win, No. 11 West Chester (11-2, 7-1 PSAC East) kept pace with first-place East Stroudsburg, who defeated Bloomsburg Wednesday, while increasing its lead over No. 15 Kutztown (7-5, 3-4) to 3.5 games with four to play while also sweeping the season series from the Golden Bears.
The Golden Rams won their fourth consecutive match thanks to a swarming defense and a dominant second quarter. After Kutztown opened the scoring early in the game, West Chester responded with eight unanswered tallies to take an 8-1 advantage with just over three minutes left in the first half.
Lila McMahon-Skates (West Linn, Ore./West Linn) scored four of those eight goals.
Marissa Herring (Landenberg, Pa./Kennett Square) notched a pair of goals herself.
Sydney Wasdick (Pottsgrove, Pa./Pottsgrove) and
Avery Roberts (Mantua, N.J./Clearview) scored the other two markers in the decisive run.
Kutztown scored right before halftime, and then opened the second half scoring two of the first three tallies in the third quarter. However, West Chester finished out the game on a 9-0 run that left the hosts stunned. This time it was
Kendall Fortune (Jarrettsville, Md./North Harford) who powered the surge with three goals. Skates and Wasdick each scored twice while Herring and
Ava Sheeran (Linwood, N.J./Mainland Regional) tallied as well.
The Golden Rams defense held the Golden Bears scoreless for the final 22 minutes, 53 seconds while forcing 27 turnovers and limiting the hosts to just 12-for-18 on clears. West Chester held a 16-7 advantage on draw controls as well.
Morgan Koons (Mountain Top, Pa./Crestwood) made seven saves in her return from injury and looked sharp.
Caitlin Trickett (Sinking Spring, Pa./Wilson) scooped up four draw controls and three ground balls while causing three turnovers. Herring caused three turnovers on the Golden Rams' ride to go along with her three goals. Wasdick contributed seven draw controls and two ground balls to go along with her three goals and one assist.
West Chester has one week off before hosting Shepherd University at Vonnie Gros Field next Wednesday at 4 p.m.
