With the PSAC East Player of the Week, Nicole Fiorilla, leading the way, the Golden Rams extended their winning-streak to seven games after back-to-back victories over East Stroudsburg and Mansfield, until they dropped one to Shippensburg at Vonnie Gros Field this week.
The Golden Rams won the PSAC match with a 5-2 victory over the East Stroudsburg Warriors on Tuesday afternoon.
West Chester (8-1, 3-1 PSAC East) took command over East Stroudsburg (2-7, 0-4) in the first half after Fiorilla set the tone of the game, sending in the first two goals of the game. Lauren Ventrella responded with a goal with 3:52 left in the first half to close in on the Rams’ early lead, leaving the half 2-1.
Leah Angstadt added to the lead 36 seconds into the second half, extending their lead to 3-1.
As the only scorer for the Warriors in the game, Ventrella sent her second goal into the net two minutes later to keep East Stroudsburg in the competition.
Less than two minutes later, Alisha Moran kept the score in a reasonable distance, putting the Rams ahead 4-2.
Former PSAC East Player of the Week, Michele Schrift, closed out scoring four minutes later, pulling away once and for all with a 5-2 victory.
The Golden Rams held a 31-11 advantage in shots and 13-5 advantage in penalty corners.
Kristin Arnold made five saves in the victory, while Maureen Ordnung made 13 saves for the loss. “I was pleased with our team’s performance- but there is obviously always room for improvement,” West Chester’s leader in scoring, Fiorilla said. “I expect a win on Friday,” she continued, referring to the upcoming battle against Mansfield.
And that’s exactly what happened on Friday afternoon after the Rams crushed Mansfield (3-6) with a final score of 10-1.
Kayla Gluchowski earned a career-high four goals in the game, and Molly Herihly added two goals in the blow-out win at Vonnie Gros Field Friday afternoon.
Gluchowski put up her first two goals in the first half, mirroring that performance in the second half.
Herihly netted her first goal in the first half, along with Megan Callanan, Carly Buckwalter and senior co-captains Fiorilla and Brynn Adams. Buckwalter’s shot was off a penalty corner just as the second half expired.
Stef Pirri, Courtney Wolff, Angstadt and Moran each registered assists.
Kristin Arnold was credited with two saves in the first half when she was relieved by Gabby Panasiewicz for her first appearance of the season. Panasiewicz registered six saves in the second half. Mansfield enlisted three goalkeepers in the contest, who made a combined 15 saves in the loss.
The nine-goal advantage was the largest margin of triumph for West Chester since the 9-0 victory over Monmouth in the first round of the Vonnie Gros Classic in 2007.
After the crushing victory over Mansfield, the Rams lost a 0-2 match against No. 3 Shippensburg (10-2, 4-0 PSAC West) on Saturday afternoon.
Kristina Taylor took an assist from Katie Shoop to put the Raiders on the board eight minutes into the game.
Twelve minutes later, Shoop contributed with another assist to Bre White who netted the second and last goal of the contest.
Shippensburg held a 13-10 advantage in shots while West Chester had a 10-6 advantage in penalty corners.
Kristin Arnold made saves in her second loss of the season, while the Raiders’ Delost made seven saves against the Golden Rams.
The Rams were unable to finish this match with a victory, but they kept their focus on the future and their current accomplishments.
“It is a great honor to be named Player of the Week,” Fiorilla said. “Every athlete in the game works hard so it is nice to be recognized, but more importantly it is a better honor that our team has now been recognized twice.”
Michele Schrift was awarded the honor earlier in the season, and Fiorilla has now nabbed the title twice, claiming the title last season as well.
“I expect to make it to the championship,” Fiorilla said. “I believe it is in our reach and our whole team is on the same page if we continue to listen to our coaches and work hard. The six seniors want it more than anything- I can promise you that!”
In spite of their recent loss, the Golden Rams have displayed superior heart and drive as is exemplified by their near perfect record.
West Chester will take on Kutztown at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday at University Field.
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.