Led by seniors Lauren Ginnona, Danielle Gerz and Danielle Curry, this year’s version of the West Chester University women’s soccer team was a young one that had a lot of ups and some downs. The Lady Rams made the NCAA Division II tournament for the fifth consecutive year, but eventually fell to Franklin and Pierce 1-0 in the quarterfinals for the second time in the last three years.West Chester finished another successful season with a 17-3-3 record and won the PSAC Women’s Soccer Championship for the second consecutive year against Slippery Rock 2-0.
Throughout the season, the Lady Rams won nine straight games, and went unbeaten in eleven straight during September and October.
With goal keepers Hilary Smart and Brittany Barnes playing in between the pipes, the Rams won five consecutive games by shutout on two separate occasions.
In 14 games, Smart finished with a 0.71 GAA with 11 victories and five shutouts. Barnes, who played in 10 games, finished with a 0.41 GAA with six victories, one tie, and seven shutouts.
West Chester’s strong point this year was their offense. Led by freshman sensation Sarah Oswald, the Lady Rams doubled up their opponents in shots (310-155) and tripled up their opponents in goals scored (41-14).
The PSAC Eastern Division Rookie of the Year, Oswald set a West Chester record with 18 goals scored, and she ranked second in the league with points and goals. She was also a first team Eastern Division selection.
Complementing Oswald all year was junior forward Brittany Yetter. Yetter ranked second on the team in goals (7), points (18), and game winning goals (4). She was a major part of a young team. This was her third consecutive year leading the Lady Rams to the postseason. This was also Yetter’s third consecutive season making the first-team All-PSAC squad.
Leading the defense this year for the Lady Rams was Lauren Boyer. Throughout the season, the junior was praised for her tenacity against the opposition. Playing at times with all freshmen on defense, Boyer was able to put her teammates in the right place to succeed and not allow West Chester opponents to get a clean scoring opportunity.
The accolades rolled in this season for the junior. Boyer was selected to her third straight first team All-PSAC squad.
Boyer was also named to the Daktronics All-Region first team, selected to the 2007 All-District Women’s Soccer team which was chosen by the College Sports Information Directors of America, and named to The Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area team. What honors for a great player here at West Chester.
After finishing short of their ultimate goal of winning a National Championship, the Lady Rams will be returning a young nucleus that has fought through a full collegiate season.
Coach Betty Ann Kempf Townsley and her team will not look to return to where they finished this season. While working hard during the off-season, the Lady Rams will be trying to surpass the accomplishments by this year’s team in the hopes of winning that elusive National Championship.
LJ Harrell is a second-year student majoring in business. He can be reached at LH639694@wcupa.edu