After their only loss to Bloomsburg last week, the Golden Rams’ lacrosse team ignited a six-game winning-streak with triumphs over Gannon and Millersville last week, and Shippensburg, Georgian Court and Edinboro this week.
West Chester (10-1, 7-1 PSAC) defeated Gannon in an away game last Sunday with a score of 17-14. Erin Oczkowski earned four goals with two assists, Tori Dugan earned one goal with five assists, while Lauren Glassey, Theresa Giunta and MacKenzie O’Keefe each registered a hat trick.
The Golden Rams then took on Millersville in a conference away game last Tuesday that ended in another victory, 18-5.
Glassey earned six goals, while Nicole Pyle and Jamie Dolan each registered hat tricks and Dugan notched in two.
The Golden Rams kept the momentum going when they defeated Shippensburg (6-4, 2-3) in a conference tilt last Friday with a score of 19-10 at their second home game of the season on Vonnie Gros Field.
Jacki Patterson and Glassey each scored five goals and Dugan finished with seven points.
“We knew that Ship was going to put up a fight because they had nothing to lose as a PSAC contender, so we made sure that we were ready for a competitive game,” Patterson said. “Once we were able to figure out their weaknesses on defense, it was easy to score on them…They were slow to drop their doubles on D, so if we moved the ball quickly, it was a goal every time we were on attack.”
The Rams took an early 5-0 lead in the first half and kept that advantage for the remainder of the game.
Shippensburg came within two goals in the beginning of the half, but couldn’t keep up with the Rams’ pace in the long run.
All five of Patterson’s goals came in the first half, while Dolan scored twice with three assists.
Jess Henderson registered five saves in the win, while Shippensburg’s Ali Cross made 14 saves.
The Golden Rams’ success continued through this week with another win in an away game against Georgian Court on Thursday, out-scoring their opponents 21-5.
Junior Brittany Long put up a career-high five goals while 11 different players notched one against the Lions.
The Golden Rams controlled 15 of the 16 draw controls to take a 15-0 advantage by the end of the first half.
Glassey, Oczkowski, Patterson, O’Keefe, Jodan Heidelbaugh and Melinda Speers each put up two goals each.
Theresa Giunta, Dugan, Pyle and Dolan each netted one, while Dugan also contributed with three assists and Dolan added two.
Henderson made three saves in her 40 minutes in the cage while Kelsey Sward took over for the remaining 20 minutes.
“Although [Edinboro is] not the strongest team in the conference, it will definitely be a good game to play and watch,” Patterson said. “The conference games have been so up and down this season, with so many upsets and unexpected losses from some very strong teams. That being said, we cannot underestimate any teams that have been weak in the past, and we will prepare for these games just like any others, ready for anything.”
The Rams continued their winning-streak with their sixth straight victory, totaling 18-8, over Edinboro (5-8, 1-7) in a PSAC match at Vonnie Gros Field on Saturday.
Glassey and Patterson each came up big again with four goals and two assists apiece, totaling six points each. Pyle and Oczkowski each contributed hat tricks while Pyle also added an assist.
Dugan, O’Keefe, Dolan and Stacey Pellechia each added a goal with Dugan putting up a pair of assists and securing eight draw controls.
Henderson only had to make one save in her 48 minutes in the cage while Kelsey Sward also made one save in the remaining 12 minutes of play.
Glassey’s solid performance last week earned the junior midfielder the PSAC Women’s Lacrosse Athlete of the Week title.
Glassey totaled 14 points versus Millersville and Shippensburg, conprised of 11 goals and three assists. She also added four ground balls, four draw controls and four turnovers. She is second on the team in scoring with 39 points and second in assists with 14. In the contest against Millersville, Glassey posted a career-high six goals.
“Being PSAC player of the week was an honor,” Glassey said of the achievement. “I was happy to hear that my hard work was recognized.”
Glassey said the team looks forward to the rest of the season and is confident that they will have continued success in their future.
“We are the biggest threat,” Glassey said. “Knowing the competition is scared to play you only increases how hyped up we get to play.”
This week will include a game against rival Lock Haven in a home game on Friday afternoon.
“They are having a rough season right now with four losses, and one loss being in the conference, but we cannot underestimate anyone,” Patterson said. “They wait their entire season to play us because we knocked them out of the playoffs last year.”
The Golden Rams will face top-ranked LeMoyne on Monday in the first of five home games at 3 p.m. at Vonnie Gros 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.