CALIFORNIA (Oct. 7) – The California University of Pennsylvania women's soccer team dropped a 2-1 decision against preseason-league favorite West Chester on Saturday afternoon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) play at the Phillipsburg Soccer Facility.
With the loss, the Vulcans fall to 3-8-1 on the season behind a 3-7-1 mark in league action. Meanwhile, the Golden Rams move to 8-2-1 overall and remain tied for first place in the conference standings with an 8-2-0 record.
Cal U notched the initial goal of the game in the ninth minute when senior
Kira Carberry (Odenton, Md./Arundel) scored after the ball deflected off a West Chester defender to give the Vulcans a 1-0 lead. A free-kick chance by freshman
Kiley Austin (Orchard Park, N.Y./Sacred Heart Academy) at the 33:07-mark nearly increased the lead, but the Golden Rams keeper made the save. West Chester found its equalizer in the 38th minute when a corner kick was headed home by sophomore Jenny Bail with the assist going to junior Nikki Caffey. The match went to the half tied at 1-1 with the Golden Rams holding a 7-3 shot advantage, in addition to a 2-0 edge in corner kicks.
A chance at the 58:28-mark almost gave West Chester the lead, but senior goalkeeper
Michaela Colon (Montgomery Village, Md./Gaithersburg) made a diving save. The Golden Rams saw another opportunity halted when a shot rang off the post to keep the game leveled. West Chester snatched the lead in the 65th minute on a ball played through by senior Kaitlyn McNamara to teammate junior Nikki Zaso, who beat the keeper one-on-one to give the visiting side the 2-1 advantage. Junior Julia Kirkpatrick saw her free kick chance sail over the net as West Chester attempted to add an insurance goal later in the contest.
Colon posted four saves in the losing effort while facing 15 shots in 90 minutes of action.
The Golden Rams held a 15-3 shot advantage, as the Vulcans were unable to record a shot in the second half. West Chester registered all eight corner kicks in the contest, including six in the final 45 minutes.
The Vulcans return to PSAC action on Friday, Oct. 13, when they travel to face Shippensburg at 4 p.m.
