MILLERSVILLE, Pa. –   An intense game between two nationally-ranked PSAC powerhouses ended with the No. 15 Millersville Marauders defeating the No. 6 West Chester Golden Rams 2-1 on Saturday afternoon at Pucillo Field to remain undefeated in the 2019 season.

West Chester scored in the 10th minute, marking the first goal that Millersville had conceded all year. Playing from behind for the first time, the Marauders got back into the game and was able to equalize before halftime courtesy of Michelle Belcher. Savannah Rennix added what turned out to be the game-winning goal in the 81st minute to secure one of the most prominent wins in Millersville program history.
 
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
•  It was an unusual situation that led to the first West Chester goal. In the 10th minute, the ball was driven into the box towards Marauder goalkeeper Reagan Kolinski, who did not handle it cleanly. The ball rebounded off Kolinski and rolled slowly away from her until Katie Crouthamel arrived to put it in the net and put the Golden Rams in front.

•  Millersville absorbed West Chester's offense well in the first half and had to pick their spots to attack carefully. In the 39th minute, Kay Liebl held up the ball beautifully in the West Chester penalty box, shielding a defender until Michelle Belcher arrived. Liebl slid the ball over to her, and Belcher blasted it home to equalize the game 1-1.

• The game remained on a knife's edge until the 81st minute. Again it was solid hold-up play that allowed the Marauders to break down West Chester's defense. The ball once again found its way into the the Golden Rams' penalty box, where Savannah Rennix was strong on the ball, turned and fired it past West Chester keeper Brooke Myers for the 2-1 lead.

POST GAME REACTION FROM HEAD COACH MATT PROCOPIO
• On falling behind early: "I think the first half, we just weren't ourselves for whatever reason. Mistakes happen, and we put ourselves kind of behind the 8-ball, but we responded well. We found a way to get a goal, it was a nice finish, then in the second half we became ourselves again and were much better. We were able to do more and create more opportunities with a lot of energy and found what we were looking for."
• On this group of players: "They're great girls, fun to work with. They do work hard, we demand a lot of them, I know that, and we let them know we needed them to be better in the second half. The best thing is that they respond. It was good for us to play from behind in a way, to prove that we can come back. That's what I told them after the game. They've been a resilient group, so it's been great."
• On the upcoming grind through PSAC play: "We go week by week. Just try to win the week each time and move from there. We enjoy the win, then move on and prepare for the next week."

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• West Chester outshot Millersville 11-10. The Marauders held the edge in corner kicks 5-4.
• Freshman Michelle Belcher's goal was her team-leading fifth of the season. She also leads the team in shots on goal for the season with 15 and total points with 11.
• Savannah Rennix's goal was her second of the season. She also has two assists, giving her six total points, the fourth-highest total on the team.
• Kay Liebl's assist gives her three on the year and nine total points, the second-highest on the Marauders.
• Freshman goalkeeper Reagan Kolinski's streak of six straight clean sheets was broken, but she did add five more saves to her season total and earned her seventh straight victory to begin her collegiate career.

NOTES
• The Marauders are now 9-20-2 all-time versus the Golden Rams. Head coach Matt Procopio improves to 2-3 all-time against WCU.
• Millersville had lost 4 straight games to West Chester, from 2014-2017. That streak was snapped last season with a 4-1 win and a Kay Liebl hat trick.
• The team's 7-0 start continues to be a program record for the beginning of a season and now ties the program record for longest winning streak overall, held by the 2003 team. 

NEXT UP
• The Marauders remain home at Pucillo Field this Wednesday, Oct. 2 at 7 p.m. to face Mansfield University. The Marauders were victorious in 2018's matchup, 2-1.