The West Chester Golden Rams soccer squad is hoping to have a repeat of their 2007 season. Last season found a Golden Rams team that had high hopes of going to the playoffs feeling down and out at midseason. However, after several big wins down the stretch, the Golden Rams found themselves sneaking into the final spot of the postseason.If the Rams are going to replicate that feat than they need to start winning their conference games. ?
The Golden Rams were held scoreless in two games this week, first against PSAC East rivals Bloomsburg and than in a loss to PSAC West opponent Lock Haven. The Golden Rams now sit eight points out of a playoff spot.
Bloomsburg (1-1-2) visited the Golden Rams Tuesday afternoon in an important divisional contest. Millersville (4-0) and East Stroudsburg (4-1) continue to put space in between themselves and the rest of the division everyday so this contest was vital for each squad to keep pace.
Unfortunately, neither squad walked away from the field with the thrill of the victory. After no scores in all of regulation and two overtimes, both teams left South Campus Field locked in a 0-0 tie.
Senior Captain Garrett Santora made 10 saves in net and was the player of the game. With time ticking down in the second half Santora made a flying punch save to keep the game knotted. Santora continued to shine in the contest when he took the potential golden goal away from Bloomsburg in the first overtime when he caught a deflected head ball. The goal was certain to give the victory to the Rams division rival.
The Bloomsburg Huskies led West Chester in shots on goal 19-10 and controlled the ball for a majority of the game. The Golden Rams had two shots from Mike Pryor and Matt Aunet who both had opportunities to win the game in regulation and overtime but it was not meant to be.
In a weekend contest, the Golden Rams traveled to the heart of Pennsylvania in another PSAC bout against the Lock Haven University Bald Eagles. Even though the Bald Eagles are a PSAC team and former heated rival of the Golden Rams, the move to the PSAC West has made Lock Haven a non-division game, and not count against them in playoff standings.
The Golden Rams were once again kept off the score sheet for the entirety of regulation. It was Garrett Santora once again being the star player for the Rams as he kept his squad in a tie that lasted almost all of regulation. However, the Rams were not destined for another scoreless tie as Paul Hockett put the Bald Eagles ahead in the 78th minute.
The Rams were once again out shot by their opponents, this time 12-6. The Golden Rams still have six divisional contests remaining in their quest for the playoffs, only two at home (East Stroudsburg 10/25 and Shippensburg 11/1).
Senior Captain Mike Pryor remains optimistic. “We need to win now and it is still in our hands to make it right by putting WCU soccer back on top of the table.”
Ken Schmidt is a fourth-year student majoring in communication studies. He can be reached at KS609536@wcupa.edu.