First came the first Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championship in school history for WCU. Next came the team record for most games won in a single season as the Golden Rams added win number 21. Finally, the Golden Rams added their second consecutive Northeast Region championship. This past week has been a whirlwind of excitement for the Lady Rams. The excitement began Sunday Oct. 29, when the Lady Ram upended Indiana University of Pennsylvania in the PSAC championship game, 2-1.
Brittany Yetter scored the first goal of the game only 9:36 into the game. IUP had responded with a goal of their own later in the first half. The game remained deadlocked at 1-1 until Julie Karcher knocked in the game-winning goal for WCU at 78:33.
“I don’t think anyone anticipated the way the season has gone so far, but they knew that they had a good chance to win the PSAC,” said Head Coach Gerry Lucey. “Our second goal is to win the national title. At this stage, they have a lot of belief in themselves.”
The next rung on the excitement ladder came Friday afternoon when WCU hosted the NCAA Northeast Regional playoffs. The Golden Rams faced Slippery Rock in the first round of the final 16, and defeated them 4-0, bringing their season contest wins to 21, the most in school history.
Yetter played a key role in this game, scoring two goals. Her career goal total is now 20, and she is tied for seventh in school history and she is only a sophomore.
Karcher finished the game with four points on one goal and two assists, to bring her season points total to 49, breaking the previous record of 45 points in a season, which she has tied last year.
Danielle Gerz was also a strong force on the Golden Rams’ offense as she scored the second goal of the game for WCU on a one-on-one with the Rock’s goaltender.
The final rung in the excitement ladder came Sunday afternoon when the Lady Rams battled IUP in their fourth meeting this season for the northeast regional championship.
The excitement level was high, the weather was beautiful, but at the start of the game, things did not look good for the Lady Rams. IUP came at the Golden Rams aggressively, scoring the first goal of the game off of a direct kick within the first 20 minutes, hoping to not to repeat the outcomes of the last three meeting with the Lady Rams. WCU had other plans in mind. This was the last time IUP sent the ball into the Golden Rams’ net.
The score stayed 1-0 for most of the first half, with IUP physically dominating the game. Once the Lady Rams realized what they were up against and settled into a groove, they were able to start playing their game, and from then on they were unstoppable. First year student Michelle Kolenet scored the first goal for WCU with only 3:48 left in the first half, after the Lady Rams had taken the ball, and systematically sent it down the field and set up for Kolenet’s goal.
The Lady Rams continued the momentum they had built up at the end of the first half. They came out more aggressive, as if they had the taste of victory in their mouths. Gerz connected with the ball only 3:27 into the second half. This goal would later prove to be the game-winner. Julie Karcher was credited with the assist.
About 20 minutes later, the Lady Rams attacked again. Gerz headed the ball into the net, but the Indians’ goal tended batted the ball away to set Yetter up for a cornerkick. This cornerkick resulted in a goal from Gerz after Elma Numerato knocked the ball into the box off of Yetter’s kick to set up the goal.
Finally, after Kolenet was tripped up in the box by the Indians’ goal tender off of a break away, WCU was awarded a penalty kick. Karcher received the honor of completely the kick, and she sent the ball to the lower left corner of the net, sliding just past the goal tender’s hands to secure the win for the Golden Rams. The score was improved to 4-1 after the penalty kick. That was the last time anyone would connect with the ball for a goal.
Hilary Smart has earned her 30 career victory as a sophomore. She has only 12 more victories to tally to reach the school career record of 42.
The Lady Rams will advance to the NCAA Division II Quarterfinals next Saturday. WCU will most likely host the quarterfinals down on south campus. They will face the New England Region champions, who will be decided after Sunday’s Franklin Pierce and St. Rose contest. If Franklin Pierce wins, the Lady Rams will be playing the same team that defeated them during the 2005 quarterfinals.
For more information and for game time, visit www.wcugoldenrams.com