(Courtesy of West Chester Sports Information)
WEST CHESTER – No. 19 West Chester converted a penalty kick in the 72nd minute and tacked on an insurance tally in the 87th minute to claim its second straight Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference women’s soccer championship over No. 13 Slippery Rock on a windy and cold Sunday afternoon at South Campus Soccer Fields.
The win delivers the Golden Rams (16-2-2) an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament, which will begin next weekend.
The host Golden Rams controlled much of the action Sunday afternoon, playing for their second conference crown in as many years.
Freshman midfielder Christine Thurwanger hit the crossbar on one attempt, and a Slippery Rock defender came away with a defensive save along the goal line on an indirect restart within the penalty area about 10 feet out.
West Chester nearly put one past The Rock’s goalkeeper Lauren McManus midway through the second half when a shot from outside the area by Brittany Yetter was earmarked for the top corner. However, McManus got a hand up and deflected the ball away.
The Golden Rams finally broke through when freshman forward Sarah Oswald sent a ball into the far corner where an on-rushing Lauren Ginnona centered it into the six-yard box. Ginnona’s center was intended for Danielle Gerz, but a Rock defender tripped the senior forward and West Chester was awarded a penalty kick.
Yetter converted that kick to put the hosts on top, 1-0.
Slippery Rock (16-4-1) never relented, but the Golden Rams’ defense remained strong. West Chester did not allow a goal in the PSAC playoffs.
The win pushed West Chester’s unbeaten streak at home to 28 straight, dating back to the 2005 PSAC semifinals. The Golden Rams are 26-0-2 over that span. It also served as payback for a 3-1 setback to The Rock on Oct. 20.
Goalkeeper Brittany Barnes earned her fifth win of the year, all by virtue of shutout, making two saves in the process. McManus made six saves in the loss.
West Chester held a decided 15-6 advantage in shots and a 4-1 edge in corner kicks.
SLIPPERY ROCK
## Player MIN GA Saves
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18 Lauren McManus...... 90:00 2 6
WEST CHESTER
## Player MIN GA Saves
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0 Brittany Barnes..... 90:00 0 2
Shots by period 1 2 Tot
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SLIPPERY ROCK....... 2 4 - 6
WEST CHESTER........ 8 7 - 15
Saves by period 1 2 Tot
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SLIPPERY ROCK....... 4 2 - 6
WEST CHESTER........ 0 2 - 2
Corner kicks 1 2 Tot
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SLIPPERY ROCK....... 0 1 - 1
WEST CHESTER........ 2 2 - 4
Fouls 1 2 Tot
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SLIPPERY ROCK....... 9 8 - 17
WEST CHESTER........ 2 5 - 7
SCORING SUMMARY:
GOAL Time Team Goal Scorer Assists
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1. 71:28 WCU-W Brittany Yetter (7) Penalty kick
2. 86:09 WCU-W Sarah Oswald (17) Brittany Yetter