WEST CHESTER, Pa.- Maksym Komperda (Whitehall, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic) scored the game-winning goal with under seven minutes to play to lift the West Chester University men's soccer team (3-3-2, 3-2-0) to a thrilling 1-0 victory over Shepherd (4-2-3, 1-2-3) on a rainy Sunday afternoon on Rockwell Field.

After a first half in which Shepherd had the better of the opportunities, outshooting West Chester 3-2 on shots on goal after an early press put significant pressure on the Golden Ram defense, West Chester found its footing offensively in the second half.

The Golden Rams generated strong opportunities throughout the final 45 minutes and nearly found the game-winner on multiple occasions, including a Peter Tichy (Bethlehem, Pa./Freedom) free kick, which hit the inside of the far post; a shot by Komperda, which hit the crossbar, and another free kick by Tichy, which he nearly tucked inside the post but was saved on a great diving effort by Aidan Houck for one of his four stops on the afternoon.

As the clock ticked under seven minutes to play, Luke Newman (Mission Viejo, CA./Santa Margarita Catholic) sent a cross into the box and found the foot of Komperda, who wasted no time in getting a shot off, which sailed past a leaping Houck to give the Golden Rams the 1-0 lead late in the second half.

West Chester's defense stiffened down the stretch, and Howard made a final strong stop on a shot by Moulay El Yagouti, the last of his team best three shots of the afternoon, with under five minutes to play to preserve the shutout.

Howard made six saves on Saturday afternoon, with three in the first half and three more in the second, as the reigning PSAC East Defensive Player of the Week picked up his second shutout of the three-game homestand.

West Chester finished even with Shepherd in shots at 14-14, though the Rams held a slim 6-5 lead in shots on goal. West Chester also finished the game with a 4-3 lead in corner kicks.

Up Next

West Chester will head to Scranton on Wednesday afternoon for its first-ever meeting with Lackawanna beginning at 3:30 p.m. before returning home for another two-game homestand with Gannon and Millersville on October 3 and 7, respectively.