EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. — The ESU field hockey team was defeated by the fifth-ranked West Chester Golden Rams in the NCAA Quarterfinals, falling 2-0.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Golden Rams got on the scoreboard early, scoring off the first penalty corner of the game. Erin O'Donnell inserted the corner to the top of the arc to Ella Shockley. Shockley carried it to her right and shot left, beating Pope to the bottom left corner to put West Chester ahead 1-0 with 12:06 remaining in the first quarter.
- The Warriors were knocking on the door in the second quarter, generating a couple of looks at a potential game-tying goal. Rylie McGrath had the best chance at evening the score, putting a backhanded shot on net that Alina Burger was able to stick her right leg out and just get a piece of it. ESU had four shots on three penalty corners in the second while holding West Chester to one of each.
- McGrath had another shot on goal in the third quarter, putting another backhander on target. Elevating this one, Burger knocked it down with her blocker and the Golden Rams cleared. A minute later, Kerry Kaufman threw a centering pass from the right side to the middle of the offensive zone, and the ball bounced threw traffic to Lisa Pasman. The freshman got a shot off in front of the cage, but Burger came out of her net to challenge and make the stop.
- West Chester started the fourth quarter by flipping the field and pinning East Stroudsburg back in their own defense, forcing a couple of corners and shots off the pressure. With just under 10 minutes remaining, the Golden Rams got another corner, and Veerle Hersman took a shot from the middle of the field headed towards the right post. Allison Patel was open on the backside, able to redirect it in for an insurance goal.
The Warriors finish the 2025 season with a 16-4 campaign after a PSAC Tournament semifinal appearance and 10
th-consecutive NCAA Tournament berth.
