Emma Velez (Coatesville, Pa./Bishop Shanahan) scored in the fifth round of a shootout to lift top-ranked and host West Chester University to a 2-1 victory over No. 10 Lindenwood at Vonnie Gros Field Friday night.
West Chester (11-1) extended its winning streak to 11 straight – its longest since 2014 – in picking up its first shootout win of the season. Lindenwood (8-3) received an outstanding effort from its goalkeeper, Skylar Starbeck, under the Friday night lights, but it was not enough.
Velez, the fifth and final shooter of the night for West Chester, beat Starbeck to put the Golden Rams up by two goals with just one shooter left for Lindenwood, thus clinching the victory. West Chester converted four of its five shootout attempts while Lindenwood converted two of its four.
Lindenwood struck first in the 11th minute when its leading scorer, Bridget Hoogendijk, notched her 12th of the season off an assist from Shelby Pierson. It was one of only three shots on goal in the first half for the Lions.
West Chester finally got the equalizer in the 54th minute when Sophie Ruppert (Manheim, Germany) blasted a slapshot from about 12 feet out past Starbeck for her second goal of the season.
That is the way regulation and a pair of 10-minute overtime periods ended, sending the game into a shootout.
West Chester held a 29-8 advantage on shots. However, Lindenwood’s goalkeeper was outstanding, making 16 saves on the evening.
West Chester held a 13-8 advantage in penalty corners.
West Chester goalkeeper Marissa Elizardo (North Wales, Pa./North Penn) made three saves in the game. However, her greatest save she will not officially get credit for. She made a diving stick save along the goal mouth on Noor Fons in the fourth round of the shootout that set up Velez’s game-winner.