Photo: WCU Football via wcugoldenrams.com
Fall sports are back here at West Chester University (WCU). With a new and returning class of Golden Rams, our teams strive to succeed in their respective seasons. Here is a look at what’s been happening these past few weeks.
Cross Country
The West Chester University Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Teams enter the 2024 season looking to improve from past seasons. The men’s team found themselves as the eighth pick in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) preseason poll. The women’s team placed tenth in the PSAC preseason poll for the 2024 season. Both teams started the season positively, finishing first out of four teams at the WCU Season Opener hosted at Unionville High School. WCU’s Josh Miller would go on to win the 6k individual title along with Taylor Atkinson, who was victorious in the women’s 4k. Both teams will compete in the Main Line Invitational on September 20.
Football
The West Chester University Football Team began its 2024 season with a new coach and high expectations. As the fourth pick in the PSAC preseason poll, Duke Greco coached his first game with the Golden Rams in a non-league clash against Bentley University. West Chester’s 2024 home opener started perfectly, leading 14–3 heading into halftime. Bentley, however, would come back to score 17 points compared to WCU’s three in the second half of the game. Bentley’s game-ending field goal would put them over the edge against the host Rams on the day. Cooper Jordan, Dayshawn Jacobs and Robby Longo ended the day as the Golden Rams’ top performers. WCU returned to Farrell Stadium to host California University of PA (Cal U) on Saturday. The Golden Rams looked to bounce back from their earlier loss at home a week ago. Cal U dominated the first half of the game outsourcing the host Rams 24–7. WCU went on to close the deficit by earning 21 points in the second half. However, Cal U held off the Golden Rams to earn the victory ending 38–28 in favor of the visitors. West Chester finds themselves 0–2 after their opening two home games of the season. WCU will play its first away game against Seton Hill University on Saturday, Sept. 21.
Field Hockey
As the fourth pick in the PSAC preseason poll, the West Chester Field Hockey Team looks to return to the playoffs after missing out in last year’s competition. The Golden Rams are currently 3–1 after four games. In a tightly contested battle, WCU fell to Assumption University 1–0 in its 2024 home opener. The Golden Rams bounced back with its first win of the season against Bentley two days later. In their win against Bentley, West Chester found goals from Jasmine Miller (2), Adriana Palumbo (2), Morgan Becker and Ella Shockley. WCU’s winning ways continued as the team managed to win its next two games. A 5–0 victory against Adelphi University and a 2–1 win over PSAC rival Bloomsburg University. West Chester’s expectations were shaped even higher after being dubbed sixth in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA). The team continues to prepare for PSAC play as they host Millersville on Sept. 17 in a non-league clash.
Golf
The West Chester Golf Team looks to start their season off in the right swing. Both teams participated in the WCU Battlefield Classic in Gettysburg. The men’s team would finish first overall after day one of the competition while the women found themselves sitting fifth. On the second day of the event, the Golden Rams ended the competition sitting respectively at second for the men and third for the women. Connor Strine was the highest-scoring on the Golden Rams, coming second individually. Women’s Golf will make its next appearance at the Franklin Pierce Fall Invite on September 16–17. Men’s Golf will return at the Hannastown Collegiate on September 23–24.
Men’s Soccer
Last season’s PSAC runners-up found themselves as the second pick in this year’s PSAC preseason poll. The West Chester University Men’s Soccer Team currently sits at an undefeated 3–0–1 record. The Golden Rams opened their 2024 season with a 1–1 draw against Jefferson University at home. Maksym Komperda became the host’s first goalscorer of the new season. However, Komperda’s effort would cancel out as the visiting Rams tied the game early in the second half. WCU would bounce back with a thumping 5–0 win against Holy Family University in Philadelphia. Goals from Peter Tichy, Owen Slack (2), Komperda and Jack O’Brien led the Golden Rams to their first victory in the 2024 season. Second-year Jaden Howard earned both his first appearance and shutout as a Golden Ram with the team’s victory. West Chester continued their winning momentum with another road win against Wilmington University. Goals from Chrisitan Vorcheimer, Tommy Bodenschatz, Frankie Taylor and Devon Frey gave the Golden Rams a well-deserved 4–2 against the hosts. The host Rams made a final return to Rockwell Field as they defeated Southern Connecticut State University 1–0 with another goal for Komperda. The second-year forward put the Golden Rams up in the middle of the second half. Howard earned his second career shutout with a pair of saves for WCU. West Chester’s next game will be on Sept. 18 as the team travels to take on Mercy University.
Rugby
The West Chester University Women’s Rugby Team began its 2024 season with a tight battle against Long Island University (LIU). The Golden Rams began the contest sticking with LIU until the visitors led 13–7 at the half. WCU’s struggles continued as its opponents scored 34 points throughout the second half. The Golden Rams would end the game falling 41–20. It wouldn’t be any easier for WCU as they opened their National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA) game against American International College (AIC). The Golden Rams headed to Springfield, Mass. in hopes of turning around its earlier loss against LIU. Emma Davies’ penalty kick became WCU’s only points as the hosts took the game 84–3. Next week, the Golden Rams look to find their first win of the season hosting Frostburg State University on Saturday, Sept. 21.
Tennis
The West Chester University Tennis Team began its season at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Atlantic Regionals. At the ITA Atlantic Regional tournament, a select number of players compete against other players around the country. Players Lucas Henke, Andres Urrutia, Felix Weber and Brady Burns represented the men’s team in this year’s tournament. Alexandra Cave, Delaney Tingle, Gabriella Lerario Dos Santos and Ashleigh Grooms represented the women’s team in this year’s tournament. In doubles play, Weber and Burns teamed up against PSAC rival Bloomsburg University. The duo managed to win the match with an impressive 6–1 scoreline moving on to the next round of the doubles bracket. Henke and Urrutia found themselves on the wrong side of the score line falling to another Bloomsburg matchup of Vishesh Patel and Sergio Dilan 6–3. Cave and Tingle completed a similar feat as they took down Kutztown’s Isabela de Nadai and Emma Semery 6–2. Grooms and Dos Santos fell short in their opening doubles match against East Stroudsburg’s Ariel Kelsick and Louise Boyer Vidal 6–3. In the next round of doubles action, both teams of Golden Rams came short, falling 6–0 for the women and 6–1 for the men. In singles play, Tingle became the only Golden Ram to come through the first round of play. She defeated Fabienne Lahn of Davis & Elkins 6–0 7–6 (7–4). Tingle’s momentum continued as she beat Cal U’s Maria Diletto Mungo 6–4 6–2. In the Round of 16, Tingle faced off against Lieselotte Hartlohner representing Indiana University of Pennsylvania. In a hard-fought match, Tingle eventually fell to a scoreline of 6–2 6–1. This would conclude WCU’s 2024 ITA Atlantic Regional Tournament. WCU will play its first team match for both teams against Chestnut Hill University on Sept. 24.
Volleyball
As the fourth pick in the PSAC preseason poll, the West Chester University Volleyball Team looks to make a return to the PSAC Tournament after missing out last year. The Golden Rams currently sit at a 2–5 record to start their 2024 season. WCU started its season by hosting the PSAC East Kickoff Tournament. The Golden Rams would face back-to-back losses against University of Pittsburgh Johnstown (0–3) & University of Charleston (0–3) before finding their first victory of the season against Jefferson University (3–0). Before the end of the tournament, the hosts fell once more to Wilmington University (1–3). WCU won its first away game against Goldey-Beacom College (3–1). WCU’s Zoe Haines, CeCe Isenberg and Anna Richardson helped the Golden Rams offensively throughout the game. After their first win on the road, WCU continued its away travels as they fell twice to both Dominican University of New York (2–3) and Chestnut Hill College (0–3). Isenberg and Richardson continued to shine for the Golden Rams despite the heartbreaking results. West Chester looks to bounce back when they travel to Caldwell University on Sept. 21.
Women’s Soccer
The 2023 PSAC champions and Atlantic Region runner-ups look to improve from their successful campaign a year ago. The West Chester University Women’s Soccer Team placed first in the PSAC preseason poll and 11th in the Division Two poll. The Golden Rams started their 2024 season with a 2–1 record. Traveling to Holy Family University, West Chester came out victorious 2–1 with goals from Faith Matter and Alyson Cutter. The reigning PSAC champions began their campaign with a 3–0 win over Shippensburg in West Chester. Goals from Kaitlynn Haughey, Jacqueline Graham and Cutter led the Golden Rams to their first shutout of the season. WCU faced its first loss of the season against PSAC rival East Stroudsburg University (ESU) falling 1–0. The hosts, ranked third in the PSAC preseason poll, found their first goals just minutes past the 30-minute mark. At the end of the day, WCU could not find the answers to pull back that much-needed equalizing goal. The Golden Rams look to bounce back with their first PSAC matchup of the season against Millersville University next week.
Billy Mills is a fourth-year Media and Culture major with minors in Communications and Music Production. wm970057@wcupa.edu