Field Hockey Hosts IUP Tuesday for PSAC Quarterfinal
WEST CHESTER, Pa. – The Golden Rams are currently riding a seven-game winning streak heading into Tuesday, where they will host Indiana University of Pennsylvania for the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) quarterfinal at 4 p.m. This matchup inside Vonnie Gros Field marks the beginning of the 2016 PSAC Field Hockey Tournament. Tickets to all PSAC Tournament games are $10 for adults and $5 for students. Those students from PSAC member institutions, with a valid school ID, will be admitted free. No complimentary tickets are available. Only PSAC passes will be honored. West Chester (12-6, 8-2 PSAC) claimed the three seed in the postseason tournament. The Golden Rams' 3-2 upset over fourth-ranked Millersville in overtime helped propel them in the PSAC standings. On the opposing sidelines are the IUP (Pa.) Crimson Hawks, who captured the sixth seed with a (10-7, 5-5 PSAC) record. IUP (Pa.) is on a three-game winning streak, including its most recent 1-0 victory over No. 10 Kutztown on Saturday. Both squads split the regular season series, each providing a home victory. Back in September, West Chester captured a 1-0 victory over the Crimson Hawks. Maya Gulliksen (Piscataway, N.J./Piscataway)converted a penalty corner in the 57th minute, and that was all the Golden Rams would need. However, later in the season IUP (Pa.) managed to prevail with a 3-2 win in double overtime to even the regular season series at one apiece. A player to watch for the Golden Rams is junior forward Rachal Toppi (Glassboro, N.J./Glassboro), who currently has 22 goals on the season. This marks the third consecutive season that Toppi has accomplished this feat in her career, adding to her career goals total (68) which is a Division II program record. For the Crimson Hawks, Selena West leads IUP's offensive attack. The sophomore forward has registered nine goals and a pair of assists for 20 points in her 2016 campaign. Earning first round byes in the tournament were No. 1 seed East Stroudsburg and No. 2 Shippensburg. The PSAC Semifinals and Championship Game will be played Friday and Sunday, Nov. 4 and 6 at East Stroudsburg University. The first semifinal match will be played at noon and will feature (2) Shippensburg and the winner of (3) IUP (Pa.) vs. (3) West Chester. Top-seeded (1) East Stroudsburg will will follow at 2:30 p.m. and face the victor of (5) Bloomsburg vs. (4) Millersville. The PSAC Championship Game will be held on Sunday at 1 p.m. West Chester is 6-3 in the PSAC Tournament since re-classifying to Division II in 2011. Last season, the Golden Rams fell to fell to No. 1 East Stroudsburg, 3-1, in the semifinals, but did manage to provide an NCAA Tournament appearance. PSAC Quarterfinals Schedule on Tuesday (5) Bloomsburg at (4) Millersville 4 p.m. (6) IUP at (3) West Chester 4 p.m.
