Rally Comes up Short For West Chester as Rams Fall to C.W. Post 17-16 in National Title Match
West Chester Story
C.W. Post raced out to an early lead, scoring seven goals in a 13-minute span in the first half, and despite a furious late comeback by West Chester, the Golden Rams came up just short in the end as West Chester fell to C.W. Post 17-16 in the national championship match. The Rams scored five of the final six goals of the game and twice cut the deficit to one, including after the final goal of the contest, but the Pioneers were able to hold off the Rams just enough to win the title. West Chester finished as the national runner-up for the seventh time in school history, and the program has also won two national titles.
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Championship Information
Bracket
West Chester Story
West Chester advanced to the NCAA Division II national championship match for the ninth time in the last 12 seasons as the third-seeded Golden Rams turned in another outstanding defensive performance to top No. 1 seed Rollins 19-10. West Chester held Rollins, which had been averaging 18 goals per contest entering the game, to just three in the first half and 10 for the game, which was its lowest total of the season. With the win, the Golden Rams will advance to meet C.W. Post in the national championship match. The Pioneers, who are associate members of the PSAC in football and field hockey, topped Le Moyne 15-10 in the other semifinal. Saturday's national title match will begin at 2:00 p.m.
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West Chester Story (including box and photos)
Championship Information
Bracket
West Chester topped Limestone 11-7 on Saturday afternoon in Gaffney, S.C. to advance onto the NCAA semifinals next week. The win advances the Golden Rams to the national semifinals for the third straight season and for the 10th time in the last 12 seasons. West Chester, the No. 3 seed in the South Region, will now face top-seeded Rollins in one quarterfinal while LeMoyne will take on C.W. Post in the other semifinal. C.W. Post knocked off three-time defending national champion Adelphi on Saturday in the other quarterfinal.
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NCAA Announcement
Lock Haven, Pa. - West Chester, which tied with Lock Haven and Gannon for the regular season PSAC championship, was the only PSAC team selected to the NCAA Division II women's lacrosse tournament. The Golden Rams are the No. 3 seed in the South Region and will travel to Gaffney, S.C. on Saturday to meet the No. 2 seed Limestone at 12:00 p.m. in a first round match.
West Chester will be making its 10th all-time appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The 2008 national champion, the Golden Rams will be meeting Limestone in the tournament for the second straight year, having lost to the eventual national runner-up in last year's national semifinals. West Chester has never lost an NCAA first round match in its history. Last year, the Golden Rams topped Lock Haven in the first round in what was a rematch of the PSAC championship game.
The winner of the West Chester-Limestone match will take on No. 1 seed Rollins in the national semifinals next Thursday, May 17. The championship match will be next Saturday, May 19 at 2:00 p.m. After the first round on campus sites, both the semifinals and the championship will be held in Louisville, Ky. next week as a part of the Division II National Championship Spring Festival.