The West Chester University Lady Rams suffered their first loss in PSAC play since 2004 on Thursday at Shippensburg University (4-1-0), 1-0 in overtime.In the sixth minute of the first overtime, Shippensburg second-year student Gayle Kuntzmann was able to get a shot by Lady Rams’ goalkeeper Hilary Smart to secure the Lady Raiders first victory against West Chester since October 15, 1997.
Kuntzmann was able to get to the loose ball and shoot it past Smart for the victory in sudden death.
Despite out shooting Shippensburg 11-4, West Chester could not score in the contest. Shippensburg goalkeeper Beth Long tallied five saves on the afternoon to record her third shutout of the season, while Smart had one save for the Rams.
Sarah Oswald had four shots on goal to lead the Lady Rams.
The loss to Shippensburg was the Lady Rams’ first regular season loss in 42 games.
On Saturday, the Lady Rams (3-1-1) were able to defeat the California University (Pa.) Lady Vulcan’s (0-5-1) 3-1 in a non-league soccer match up.
Cindi Nickels scored the first goal of the game shortly into the contest to give the Rams a 1-0 lead. Oswald assisted crossing the ball to Nickels who deposited it into the corner of the net.
Christine Thurwanger scored to give West Chester a 2-0 lead, shooting in a rebound off of the foot of Lauren Boyer.
Just one minute later, California cut the deficit in half when Amanda Heister took a pass from Stacia Malenchek and scored opposite goalkeeper Smart. Not only was that Heister’s first goal of the season, but CU’s first goal of the season.
In the 41st minute, Oswald secured the victory with her team-high fifth goal of the season.
Golden Rams goalkeeper Smart went wire-to-wire recording three saves and only allowing one goal. CU goal keeper Erin Cook recorded ten saves and allowed three goals.
West Chester out shot the Lady Vulcan’s 19-10 on Saturday.
The Lady Rams next contest is at home on Wednesday against the Kutztown Golden Bears at 4:30. On Saturday the Lady Rams travel to Edinboro to face the Lady Fighting Scots.
LJ Harrell is a second-year student. He can be reached at LH639694@wcupa.edu