No. 7 Mercyhurst Escapes With 2-1 Win Over West Chester In PSAC Semifinal

ERIE, Pa. – Jack Watson's goal in the second overtime period lifted seventh-ranked Mercyhurst to a 2-1 victory over visiting West Chester in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference semifinal Friday morning.
 
Watson's goal was made possible when Mercyhurst was awarded a penalty kick in the 89th minute of regulation, and Danny Deakin converted the attempt to knot the score at 1-1.
 
Tommy Ryan (Newtown Square, Pa./Marple Newtown) scored the lone goal for West Chester (10-8) when he beat Mercyhurst's goalkeeper to the top left corner off a feed from Christian Benner (Tedford, Pa./Souderton) in the 54th minute.
 
Freshman keeper Matt Palmer (Bangor, Pa./Bangor) made 10 saves to keep the Golden Rams in the game.
 
Mercyhurst (11-2) advances to the conference championship game Saturday afternoon. The loss marks the third straight year in which West Chester has dropped its conference semifinal match. The Golden Rams are now 3-10-2 all-time in the PSAC Tournament.