WEST CHESTER, Pa. - Millersville women's soccer shocked West Chester with a second-half onslaught, prevailing 3-1 to claim their first PSAC East victory.
Millersville goalkeeper Sabrina Zimmerman aced six shots and made three saves in the first half alone, keeping the Marauders even. From the start of the second half, the Marauders took a 1-0 lead. The ball quickly moved from Zimmerman up-field to Aalivia Wainwright, who settled the touch and volleyed a through ball for Aubrey Strohecker. Strohecker chested the ball and volleyed it past the keeper in the 49th minute.
Fewer than two minutes later, Strohecker again helped the Marauders score. Off a punt from the West Chester keeper, Kiley Marandola won the ball out of the air and played it forward to Strohecker. With pressure coming from behind, Strohecker sent a through ball for Isabel Coy, who took a one-touch shot to score the Marauders' second goal.
Momentum remained in the Marauders' favor as Millersville earned a corner kick in the 56th minute. Wainwright, the designated Marauder to take the corners, expertly placed the ball in the box, finding the head of Marandola for a 3-0 lead.
Despite their relentless efforts, the Golden Rams could only find the back of the net once, as the Marauders stood strong on the back line. From a free kick about 35 yards out, Faith Matter delivered the ball into the box finding the head of Kaitlynn Haughey.
Millersville improved to 1-1-1 in PSAC East play and will return home on Saturday, Sept. 21 at 1 p.m. during homecoming weekend.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Coy has scored in three out of four matches this season
- Marandola scored her first collegiate goal
- Zimmerman had a career-high of seven saves
- Wainwright had two assists and now leads the team
THOUGHTS FROM HEAD COACH MATT PROCOPIO:
- Key takeaways: "We showed our resilience today after what happened on the weekend. Going on the road and winning against a top team like West Chester is no easy ask."
- On keeping West Chester to one goal despite 14 corner kicks: "Would like to decrease that number a bit but we did deal with all of them so that is positive. It's all about winning the space for us. First and second contacts on the ball are vital. Then it's about clearing the lines."
- Thoughts on offense taking advantage of their chances on the net: "Offensively the girls did great. They pressed well too. Their hard work earned them goals."
- On how to carry the momentum into Homecoming weekend: "We need to enjoy this game and then refocus immediately for Bloom which is a team we have historically struggled with. We cannot afford to have a letdown of any kind against them."
