KUTZTOWN, PA – West Chester University's women's lacrosse squad hits the road once again Wednesday for a critical Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Division showdown with Kutztown University. It is the second of two regular-season meetings between the two schools. West Chester was victorious earlier in the year at Vonnie Gros Field, 14-12.
West Chester (10-2, 6-1 PSAC East) is ranked 11th in the most recent IWLCA coaches' poll while Kutztown (7-4, 3-3) is ranked 15th in the country. The Golden Rams are coming off an 18-7 victory at home against Millersville on Saturday while Kutztown is coming off a 19-9 setback on the road at East Stroudsburg.
The Golden Rams enter the contest second in the PSAC Eastern Division standings behind undefeated East Stroudsburg (12-0, 7-0), and the Golden Bears are right behind in third place. A win for the Purple & Gold on Wednesday would give them a 3.5 game lead over the Bears with five left to play. The Golden Bears have six games left as they have to complete a suspended game with Shepherd from April 1st on April 20 – no joke. Kutztown held a 9-2 lead in the second quarter when that game was suspended on April Fool's Day.
West Chester still has its sights set on first-place East Stroudsburg and one head-to-head matchup left with the Warriors coming at Vonnie Gros Field on April 22. If the Golden Rams and the Warriors each win out in their next three games, that contest would be a battle for first place in the East as West Chester currently sits just one game back. The two rivals would be tied for first place heading into the final regular-season game three days later.
WASDICK GARNERS WEEKLY HONORS …
West Chester University senior attacker,
Sydney Wasdick (Pottsgrove, Pa./Pottsgrove) was named the Offensive Athlete of the Week in the Eastern Division of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) it was announced Tuesday afternoon.
Wasdick scored eight goals and registered nine assists in two wins last week over Shippensburg and Millersville. Wasdick recorded three ground balls, caused four turnovers and scooped up nine draw controls in addition to scoring her eight goals on 12 shots on goal. Her four consecutive goals against Shippensburg at the end of the third quarter and beginning of the fourth turned a 15-8 lead into a 19-8 advantage that salted away the contest.
Wasdick earns her second athlete of the week plaudit, having been named the PSAC East offensive athlete of the week on March 4. It is the fourth weekly honor by a West Chester University lacrosse player this spring.
WEST CHESTER-KUTZTOWN LAST GAME …
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.
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.
WEST CHESTER LAST TIME OUT …
Lila McMahon-Skates and
Sydney Wasdick combined for eight goals and 12 points to lead No. 11 West Chester to an 18-7 victory over PSAC East rival Millersville on a sunny and hot Saturday afternoon at Vonnie Gros Field.
The Golden Rams' defense held the Marauders to just 19 shots in the game and harassed them into 21 turnovers while holding a significant 18-8 margin in ground balls. Freshman
Olivia Reinhart scooped up four ground balls and caused four turnovers to lead the defensive charge.
Gianna Booker led the Golden Rams with six draw controls.
Korrigan Sweeney made seven saves in 45 minutes of action in net during her second straight start to improve to 2-1 on the year.
KUTZTOWN LAST TIME OUT …
Despite an even first quarter and a late rally from No. 16 Kutztown, No. 7 East Stroudsburg pulled away in the second quarter and held on for a 19-9 victory in the ranked rematch.
The win marked the Warriors' second victory over the Golden Bears this season. East Stroudsburg defeated Kutztown,16-6, at Keystone Field on March 11 with both teams scoring three more goals apiece in the rematch.
NEXT UP FOR WCU …
West Chester has one week before it returns to the pitch next Wednesday welcoming Shepherd University to Vonnie Gros Field for a 4 p.m. start at Vonnie Gros Field.
