The West Chester University field hockey team had an exciting weekend. The Golden Rams topped St. Francis (Pa.) 2-1 in overtime Friday afternoon at St. Francis. Lauren DuBois scored the first goal in the 12th minute of the game off of a rebound shot from Desiree Walker.
Joelle Zarefoss made three saves, all coming in the first half. West Chester kept the offense alive out-shooting St. Francis 23-8 and having 18 corners. The defense stayed strong only allowing St. Francis one corner.
Gallen, a freshman, scored the game winning goal 9:06 into overtime off an assist from Alex Swayze. This goal was her first overtime game winner of her career. Gallen pulled the goalie from her line and went around her to find a wide-open net for the win.
Saturday, West Chester traveled to Lock Haven to battle it out. Lock Haven swept West Chester 3-0 scoring all in the first half.
Last Sunday marked the 28th annual Snell Cup game, played between Ursinus and West Chester. Always a good game, this one proved to be one for the record books as the Golden Rams battled two extra overtimes to come out on top in the end 4-3 and regain the cup for the first time since 2005.
Ursinus was the first to strike, driving down and scoring only one minute into the contest.
West Chester came right back, as Desiree Walker scored off of a corner seven minutes later, and Brittany Cislak put West Chester up by one a few minutes later.
Ursinus would tie it up one more time before Beth Wong scored for the Rams, as they took a 3-2 lead into the half.
Three minutes into the second half, Ursinus once again tied it up, this time at three. That was the end of scoring in regulation.
West Chester controlled the first period of overtime with nine shots, but were unable to gain a score.
With six minutes left in the second overtime, Alyssa Gallen centered it to Cislak in front of the goal to end the game in dramatic fashion, as Cislak got her second goal of the game and gave West Chester the Eleanor Snell Cup.
West Chester now leads the all-time series between the two universities that meet every year, and also the series since the tradition of the Snell Cup has been started.
Not only was this day special because of the annual matchup, but the field was dedicated in the honor of Vonnie Gros, former coach here at West Chester University.
The team has only one game this upcomng week, that being against Temple next Saturday.
Shannon Padula is a fourth-year student at West Chester. She can be reached at SP613743@wcupa.edu.