Nov. 11, 2005

Final Stats

West Chester, PA - West Chester's Julie Karcher netted two late goals to lift the top-seeded Rams to a 2-0 win over visiting Adelphi University in first round NCAA action. With the loss Adelphi ends their season at 10-5-2, while West Chester improves to 19-1-2 and advance to face New Haven in the Northeast Region final on Sunday, November 13.

The Panthers got off to a quick start, getting the first good scoring opportunity just five minutes into play when freshman Erin Klimkowski (Westbury, N.Y.) was pulled down just outside the Ram box. Unfortunately the Panther shot was struck right into the West Chester wall.

In the 33rd minute of action Adelphi again pressured the Rams, this time Lauren Slattery (Nashua, NH) sent a cross into the penalty area, forcing West Chester's Heather Rinker to come off her line and make a diving save. Rinker got rid of the ball quickly and put the Rams on the counter attack, Karcher ended with the ball near the top of the Adelphi box, but her shot drifted wide.

The Rams had another opportunity just minutes later when an Adelphi defender attempted to clear the ball, which ended up at the feet of Maureen Quigley. Quigley was able to settle the ball and get a clean look at the goal, but sent the ball high over the bar.

The second half opened with the game still a scoreless tie, but the Panthers hoped to change that, getting their first chance in the 58th minute of play. Diana Lopez (Farmingville, N.Y.) sent the ball into the box, where Tara Grodotzke (Rocky Point, N.Y.) flicked it on to Klimkowski. Klimkowski laced a shot from about ten yards out that was stopped by Rinker, the rebound slid to a waiting Lauren Lopez (Farmingville, N.Y.) whose shot rocketed off the post and was cleared.

The Rams broke the tie in the 60th minute when Karcher raced toward the Panther goal with the ball where she was met by Michelle Giovanniello (Nesconset, N.Y.). Giovanniello took the ball from Karcher near the Adelphi penalty area, then got tangled up with another Panther defender after some miscommunication. Karcher collected the ball and buried a shot in the lower left corner of the net.

Panther goalkeeper Christine Conway (Rockville Centre, N.Y.) kept the Panthers in the game with a diving save in the 65th minute of play. But West Chester added a second goal in the 82nd minute of action when a Ram midfielder slipped the ball to a streaking Karcher, who found herself one-on-one with Conway. Conway was forced to come off her line and Karcher slipped the ball into the net, giving West Chester a 2-0 win.

Rinker made three saves in picking up the win, while Conway collected 10 saves