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Nov. 6, 2009
West Chester overcame an early deficit by scoring four unanswered goals and the host Golden Rams downed IUP by a score of 4-1 in the semifinals of the PSAC tournament Friday afternoon. The loss dropped the Crimson Hawks to 13-6-1, and they now await word on a likely at-large berth in the NCAA tournament when those pairings are announced Monday night. IUP began the week ranked fourth in the Atlantic Region with the top six teams earning postseason bids. West Chester, ranked fifth in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America poll, is 18-1-1 and defeated the Crimson Hawks for the ninth consecutive time. The Golden Rams have not lost to IUP since the 2001 season. West Chester will host Kutztown in the championship game Saturday at 11 a.m. The Golden Bears blanked California 1-0 in the other semifinal contest. Allison Keller gave the Crimson Hawks a 1-0 lead with 14:27 expired in the first half, assisted by Sarah Romasco. Keller scored both IUP goals in the tournament, having also produced the lone tally in a 1-0 victory over Mercyhurst in the opening round at home on Tuesday. The goal was the first allowed at home all season by West Chester, which has now outscored its opponents 37-1 on its home field. But West Chester tied it just 3:28 later on a goal by Tara Malkiewicz and took the lead when Melissa McKeary scored with 20:39 left in the first half. Sarah Oswald assisted on both goals as the Golden Rams took a 2-1 lead into intermission. Jen Hutchinson added two goals in a span of 5:13 early in the second half to break the game open, with the second one assisted by Oswald to give her three in the contest. West Chester held a commanding 25-8 advantage in shots and 12-2 in corner kicks. Kelly Brennan played the first 84:19 in goal for IUP and made seven saves. Lyndsie Bernardini went the distance in goal for the Golden Rams and was forced to make only one save. |
