MANSFIELD – Undefeated and No. 4 ranked West Chester scored a goal in the 68^th minute to escape with a 2-1 win as Mansfield's upset bid fell just short in thriller Saturday afternoon at Karl Van Norman Field.
 
Mansfield (3-3, 0-0 PSAC) had two great opportunities to force overtime at the end of regulation, but both shots off penalty corners were denied.
 
West Chester (4-0, 0-0 PSAC) got the first goal of the game in the 14^th minute when Katie Thompson snuck one past the Mountaineer keeper. Just minutes before the goal, Mansfield's Madison Wilinsky recorded her first defensive save of the year.
 
The Mountaineer defense would pitch a shutout for the next 54 minutes.
 
In the second half, Larissa Motts tied the game at 1-1 in the 46^th minute with a pass from Christie Buyer that was tipped in past the keeper. It was the fourth goal of the season for the defending PSAC Player of the Week.
 
Mansfield's offense kept the pressure up in the second half matching the Rams in penalty corners with 10 each and recording nine shots with five on goal. Rachel Toppi scored the game-winning goal in the 68^th minute.
 
The Mountaineers recorded more shots (16), shots on goal (9), and penalty corners (16) in the game, than the Rams' previous three opponents combined. West Chester's two goals on Saturday was its lowest total all season after opening the season with wins of 6-0, 7-0, and 5-1.
 
Mansfield keeper Brittany Ryan was incredible in goal all game long making 15 saves in the first half with 10 more in the second half.
 
The Mounties travel to No. 6 Bloomsburg on Wednesday.