The Golden Rams lacrosse team celebrated a climactic 15-12 victory over No. 1 LeMoyne, followed by a 12-9 loss to rival No. 10 Lock Haven, and a win over Indiana (Pa.) in three home games at Vonnie Gros Field this week.
West Chester’s (12-2, 8-2 PSAC) non-league triumph over previously undefeated LeMoyne (13-1, 10-0) on Monday served as head coach Ginny Martino’s record-breaking 218th win, making her the winningest coach in the league.
“It felt really great to break the old record set by another PSAC conference coach,” Martino said. “But, it truly won’t sink in until after the season is over. Right now, I am really focusing on helping my players fulfill their own dreams of winning a conference and National Championship.”
Tori Dugan had an impressive week, scoring four goals on Monday, two of which pushed the Rams up 15-12 when the score was tied with eight minutes remaining in play.
Erin Oczkowski registered a hat trick, Lauren Glassey put up two unassisted goals, and Jacki Patterson and Brittany Long each notched a tally as well.
The Golden Rams took an early 8-6 lead in the first half, which was eliminated by a four goal run from the Dolphins, two from Brenna Bauer and two from Brittany Brigandi, to take a 10-8 advantage. Brigandi finished with a game-high five goals.
Dugan and MacKenzie O’Keefe knotted the score with a goal each, while Jamie Dolan put the Rams in front again, 11-10, with an unassisted tally at 14:23.
Immediately after LeMoyne’s Kathleen Conese equalized the score, Theresa Giunta responded notching another tally, when Brigandi tied the game for the sixth time, 12-12.
Dugan scored two of the three final goals of the game to solidify the score at 15-12.
Jess Henderson, who had several impressive saves, finished with 12. LeMoyne’s Kelly Fucillo registered 13 saves in the loss.
“The LeMoyne game was definitely the biggest game of my college career up to this point,” Henderson said. “They came in undefeated as well as being the No. 1 team in the country; that’s a lot of pressure.”
Coach Martino’s 218th win surpassed former Millersville head coach Barb Waltman’s long-standing record, which elicited a proud response from her team.
“They really surprised me by dumping a bucket of ice water on me after the big win,” Martino said. “What really surprised me even more was that the cooler was still full of water at the end of the game. It must have been 95 degrees on the turf during that game and I would have thought they would have drank all the water by the end.”
While the team morale reached its peak on Monday afternoon, the Friday evening game dampened the mood with a 12-9 loss against rival Lock Haven.
“Lock Haven, of course will be a huge game,” Patterson said before the contest. “They are having a rough season right now with four losses, and one loss in the conference… but we cannot underestimate anyone. They wait their entire season to play us because we knocked them out of the playoffs last year.”
With an exciting come-from-behind victory, the Lady Eagles did not disappoint.
The loss dropped West Chester to a three-way tie for second place, along with Gannon and Mercyhurst. Lock Haven (10-4, 8-1) gained the first place slot with the victory. The outcome marked the fifth consecutive time for the two schools that the home team has lost the game in a matchup.
By halftime, the Golden Rams took an 8-6 advantage with their first three goals within the first six minutes. Lock Haven answered to tie the score halfway through the first, but the Rams ended the half with three more goals from O’Keefe and Oczkowski.
Dugan registered a hat trick and Nicole Pyle notched back-to-back goals in the first half to contribute to the early lead.
The Rams only broke through Lock Haven’s defense for one more goal in the second, while the Lady Eagles added seven more to take the game, 12-9.
After facing a high and low against two tough teams, the Golden Rams regained their composure against Indiana (Pa.) (10-5) at a home game on Saturday afternoon for Senior Day.
The match, which was moved to 1 p.m. due to impending inclement weather, ended in a 23-8 triumph for the Golden Rams.
Dugan scored six goals for the Rams, Oczkowski put up five, and Patterson and Stacey Pellechia each posted hat tricks.
West Chester took another early lead with nine unanswered goals in the first half, taking an 18-3 lead into the second and never looking back.
Henderson made 10 saves in the win for the Golden Rams.
Coming off an exciting few games, coach Martino said they look forward to the team’s successful future.
“I think that win on Monday gave us the confidence we needed in order to play the tough teams we have coming up and be successful,” Martino said. “We hit our stride right at the perfect time. We have really come together as a team and are playing the best lacrosse of our season so far. Only good things can happen when you are confident and focused.”
West Chester will take on C.W. Post on Tuesday at 4 p.m. for their final home game of the regular season, followed by a 4 p.m. away game on Thursday at Kutztown.
Brynn Dougherty is a fourth-year student majoring in economics and finance with a minor in journalism. She can be reached at BD670913@wcupa.edu.