Box Score Daily Local Article (by Neil Geohegan)WEST CHESTER, Pa. – West Chester University's men's soccer squad turned around a three-goal setback to Slippery Rock just three days ago for a 3-0 win over The Rock that advanced the Golden Rams to the PSAC semifinals Tuesday afternoon at Rockwell Field.
West Chester (10-7) advances to the semifinals of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference postseason tournament for the third straight season while Slippery Rock (11-7), the defending conference champion, saw its 2014 campaign come to a close. The Golden Rams will take on regular-season champion Mercyhurst Friday morning at 11 a.m. in Erie, Pa. The other semifinal pits Seton Hill against Bloomsburg.
On a miserable, rain-soaked Saturday afternoon where temperatures barely crept into the 40's, West Chester was able to muster very little offense against The Rock. Tuesday, on a beautiful fall afternoon with abundant sunshine and temperatures challenging the 70-degree mark, the Golden Rams' offense came alive in the second half with three tallies that led to a victory. Slippery Rock, playing without it's top goal-scorer, Stephen Donnelly, was the side that had trouble cracking West Chester's back line.
So.,
Brian Schaefer (Dresher, Pa./Upper Dublin) broke the scoreless tie in the 65th minute when he headed in a corner kick from teammate
Brett Glasco (West Chester, Pa./Rustin). A little over 13 minutes later,
Alex Lean (Newtown, Pa./Council Rock North) ricocheted a shot in off a Rock defender in front to double the host's lead, before
Brett Beaumont (Bensalem, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) slammed home a cross from Glasco into an open net on a 2-on-1 break with five minutes remaining in the tilt to salt away the contest.
Fr., goalkeeper,
Matt Palmer (Bangor, Pa./Bangor) made four saves in goal for his first postseason win in the Purple & Gold. He was especially splendid during the first 45 minutes, keeping Slippery Rock off the scoreboard, despite The Rock holding a 7-3 edge in shots and an 8-0 advantage in corner kicks.
West Chester came out of halftime hungry for a goal, after having one disallowed in the first stanza. The Rams limited the Rock to just three shots in the final 45 minutes of play and only one corner kick. Slippery Rock played the final eight minutes a man down, after having a player sent off.
NOTES: West Chester improves to 3-9-1 all-time in the PSAC Men's Soccer Tournament … it marks the third straight year that the Golden Rams have reached the semifinals of the conference tournament … West Chester has never won the PSAC Men's Soccer Championship … the Rams did play for the title in 2004 … Fr., GK Matt Palmer picked up his first college playoff victory.
