Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Top-ranked WCU trounces ESU
The Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association just elevated West Chester to the number one spot in all of NCAA Division II. And on Tuesday the Golden Rams sure looked the part.
With considerable contributions from just about every area imaginable, WCU absolutely blasted PSAC archrival East Stroudsburg, 16-5, at Vonnie Gros Field. The Rams improve to 3-0 in the league, 7-0 overall.
“I am really happy,” West Chester head coach Ginny Martino said. “Playing East Stroudsburg as many times as we play them every season, it’s as much a mental game as a physical game, so I am so proud of my girls. They played together as a team and they did everything. They were everywhere — they wanted it.”
What started out as a battle between two nationally ranked foes — the Warriors (5-2 overall) are No. 11 — ended with West Chester outscoring ESU 8-2 in the second half, necessitating a running clock. It was especially sweet for the Rams when you consider that East Stroudsburg has knocked WCU out of the NCAA Tournament in each of the previous two seasons, and also beat West Chester in the 2022 PSAC Final.
“This is always one we have circled on our calendar, especially what’s happened the last few years,” Martino acknowledged.
“Dating back to last season we have some unfinished business to take care of,” added sophomore midfielder Keri Barnett. “Today we had a lot of energy and we just want to keep showing what we can do.”
The Rams got off to a great start, scoring on three of their first four possessions to take a 3-0 lead just 8 minutes, 21 seconds in.
But ESU regrouped, scored twice in the final five minutes, and nearly cut the margin to one if not for a shot that clanged off the crossbar in the waning seconds of the first period.
Perhaps the most impressive
thing about Tuesday’s performance came next, however, when WCU proceeded to score nine of the next 10 goals to take a commanding 13-3 lead through three quarters.
“We made better decisions with our shot placement, and were moving a bit better on the attack,” Martino pointed out. “It was a great way to respond. First we stopped the bleeding and then to go on to score nine of 10.”
Barnett and Monigle spearheaded the onslaught. A graduate student, Monigle had two goals and two assists in that span, and Barnett added three goals.
“In the past few games the defense has had our back. On the attacking side we want to have the same energy that they have,” Barnett said.
“Everyone knows that ESU is our biggest rival,” Monigle added. “They always give us their best no matter the situation, but we were just ready mentally and physically. We brought it.”
WCU junior Hannah Stanislawczyk came on strong at the end of the run with two goals and an assist as West Chester wrapped up a dominating 7-0 surge.
And with the outcome secured, the Rams even won the final period with another goal by Stanislawczyk and two more from junior midfielder Julia Littlewood.
“We know how important it is to get the momentum and keep it,” Monigle said.
“I would say it was one of our best team performances so far. It was a team win. Defense absolutely killed it, so did our goalie, our faceoff group was on fire and our attack was patient and moved the ball.”
The reigning PSAC Defensive Player of the Year, senior goaltender Jessica Gorr (Bishop Shanahan) was credited with seven saves. The Rams had a big edge in shots (31-16) and shots on goal (25-12), and thanks to work from Barnett and Stanislawczyk, WCU won 17 of 25 draws.
“I like what I am seeing,” Martino said. “Our kids go hard, which is what we expect from them, so for the young kids to come in and take over at times is great.
“We have a young team, but they are rising to the occasion. We have leaders who can calm the waters in a storm, and we are getting a little more confident every game. This game will do a lot for their confidence and sometimes that’s all it takes, especially with some of the young kids.”
Barnett and Littlewood each scored four times, Stanislawczyk had three, and Monigle chipped in with a pair and a team-best four assists.
“We talked a lot after we were ranked number one that it doesn’t mean anything unless you prove it to the teams you play, and every day in practice, why we deserve to be there,” McGonigle said. “This was a great showing, and it is our goal to stay at the top, but we know we are going to have to work for it.” West Chester 16, East Stroudsburg 5
East Stroudsburg 2 1 0 2 — 5
West Chester 4 4 5 3 — 16
East Stroudsburg goals: Fitzpatrick 4, Mitrotonda. West Chester goals: Barnett 4, Littlewood 4, Stanislawczyk 3, Monigle 2, Smith, O’Brien 2. Goalie saves: DiFiore (ES) 9; Gorr (WC) 7.