West Chester University women’s lacrosse (4-1, 1-1 PSAC) went .500 on the week as they managed to upend Millersville University on the road before dropping their first home game of the season to Mercyhurst University on Saturday afternoon.
The Golden Rams defeated the Millersville Marauders (4-3, 1-2 PSAC) 11-6 inside of Biemesderfer Stadium on Tuesday afternoon, as Sami Barnett recorded a hat-trick for WCU.
Millersville managed to draw first blood at the 27:42 mark on a goal by Sabrina Fusco (assisted by Renee Landis), but then the Golden Rams’ Ashley Pyle and Barnett reeled off four unanswered goals, and West Chester began to tilt the contest in their favor.
Millersville’s Erin Fagan ceased WCU’s run with a goal assisted by Taylor Davis, but then WCU issued another four-consecutive goal onslaught that made the Marauders’ deficit almost insurmountable. Those two outbursts propelled the Golden Rams to victory, as Millersville outscored West Chester 4-3 for the remainder of the game.
Tatum Altman joined Barnett and Pyle in the multiple goal gang as she scored two of her own, with Kristen Vath, Rachel Harman, Ali Donohue and Tara Morrissey all joining the scoring party as well.
WCU bested the Marauders in most metrics, winning the battle of shots (30-23), shots on goal (19-10), turnovers (12-20) and draw controls (11-7). The Golden Rams’ ability to coerce Millersville into miscues ignited their offense, which was operating to peak functionality.
Goalkeeper Nicole Martins made four saves and grabbed her fourth win of the season in the contest.
On Saturday afternoon, WCU hosted the Mercyhurst Lakers in what proved to be a thriller, but the Golden Rams’ valiant comeback efforts fell short as they suffered their first loss of the season 13-14.
The Lakers led by as many as seven goals, but WCU tried to mount a comeback that would upstage the Lakers’ thorough performance. WCU kicked off the second half with a 5-0 run that trimmed Mercyhurst’s lead to two, but a goal from the Lakers’ Carly Zimmerman quieted the Rams’ roar and boosted the lead back up to three.
West Chester would go on to rattle off four more goals compared to Mercyhurst’s three, but the Lakers’ early game charge was enough to keep WCU at bay. Pyle recorded a score with :52 left, but Mercyhurst milked the clock to prevent the Golden Rams from knotting things up, averting what would’ve been an epic meltdown.
WCU again trumped the opposition in important areas such as shots (27- 24), shots on goal (20-19) and turnovers (12-14), but the statistics told an unkind story this time around.
Pyle (5) and Barnett (2) led the scoring brigade for WCU. Olivia Martin, Sarah Gebre, Cifelli, Morrissey, Donohue and Martin all recorded goals as well. Cifelli also had a team-high seven assists and eight total points.
This was the Golden Rams’ lone clash with the Lakers this season, depriving WCU the chance of avenging this tough loss.
In addition to the victory over the Marauders, WCU raced out the gate with victories over Holy Family University (22-1), University of Findlay (16- 7) and Young Harris College (17-5).
The Golden Rams continue their four-game homestand on Wednesday against Kutztown University before Lindewood University pays a visit to Vonnie Gros Field on Saturday, April 1.
With this homestand, students will be afforded ample opportunities to go and watch WCU perform, so make sure to go and cheer on the Golden Rams as they look to continue their strong season.
William Boyer is a third-year student majoring in communication studies. He can be reached at WB806695@wcupa.edu.