Six Receive All-PSAC Honors; Rachal Toppi Freshman of the Year
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – West Chester landed six field hockey players on the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference 2014 All-Conference squad Tuesday afternoon, including Rachal Toppi (Glassboro, N.J./Glassboro), who was named PSAC Freshman of the Year. Toppi has started all 18 games for the Golden Rams, registering 19 goals and two assists for 40 points. She leads the team in goals scored (19), total points (40), and shots on goal (51). The offensive presence of Toppi is a significant reason why West Chester averages 4.00 goals per game. In addition to being named PSAC Freshman of the Year, Toppi was placed on the first-team squad. Sophomore Marnie Kusakavitch (Pittston, Pa./Holy Redeemer) received a first-team nod as well, being second on the team behind Toppi with 11 goals and four assist for 26 points. Kusakavitch broke records along the way, recording nine points (4 goals, 1 assist) on September 7th against Lindenwood. The nine points broke Kayla Gluchowski's school record for points in single game since the program moved to Division II. The four goals in one game also tied Gluchowski's school mark set against Mansfield in 2011. Junior Alexis Versak (Limerick, Pa./Spring-Ford) appeared in and started all 18 games for the Golden Rams, contributing nine goals which are good enough for third on the roster. She chipped in with three assists as well, totaling 21 points for the fourth most on the squad. Defensively, the pair of Golden Rams nominated to the first-team was senior Hannah Davies (Mountain Top, Pa./Crestwood) and junior Kristina Scherrer (Enola, Pa./Cumberland Valley). Logging the most minutes of any Golden Ram besides the goalkeepers was Davies with 1,177 minutes. Davies started all 18 games, finding the back of the cage four times, while also recording one assist for nine points. Scherrer leads the team with nine assists, while providing a pair of goals for 13 points. Both cleared the net for West Chester's goalkeepers with two defensive saves each, contributing to the five team shutouts. Being recognized on the third-team was sophomore Dayle Paustian (Martinsville, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan). The midfielder has started all 18 games this season for the Golden Rams, accumulating six goals and five assists for 17 total points. West Chester has clinched the regular season PSAC title and has earned a bye into the PSAC semifinals. The Golden Rams will host the first semifinal against the winner of Mercyhurst versus East Stroudsburg, on Friday, November 14th at 1 p.m.
