WEST CHESTER, Pa. - In their fifth top ten matchup of the season, the No. 9 Mansfield Mountaineer field hockey team (10-6, 4-3 PSAC) finished off their road schedule at No. 6 West Chester (11-5, 4-3 PSAC) in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) contest on Saturday night, but the Golden Rams defended their home turf in a slim 1-0 victory.

WCU swarmed the Mountaineer defense early, posting nine shots across the first eight minutes of action. The Golden Rams totaled four penalty corners in the quarter, with their second attempt banging off the post. Ella Du Plessis was credited with the only shot for the Mounties as the first quarter ended luckily for Mansfield in a 0-0 lock.

In the first minute of the second quarter, a misplay by the Mountaineers led to a breakaway score for the Golden Rams to take the 1-0 edge. WCU looked to double the score, earning four penalty corners in the quarter but no success.

Mansfield's first penalty corner of the game came with 23 seconds left until halftime, but the Mountaineers could not create an opportunity as the Golden Rams held the 1-0 advantage heading into halftime.

Coming out of the locker rooms, neither team could create momentum until West Chester sent five shots in three minutes of action, but August Lewis was confident in defending the cage, making important saves to take the 1-0 deficit into the final quarter.

To start the final fifteen minutes of action, the Golden Rams look to hold the edge, attempting three shots in the first two and a half minutes.

The Mounties brought the last of the energy for one final push, disrupting the Golden Ram defense and placing three shots in a three-minute span, but West Chester held on the claim the slim 1-0 conference victory.

UP NEXT:  
Mansfield returns to Karl Van Norman Field for their final two contests of the season, starting with No. 4 Bloomsburg on Tuesday, October 29. This PSAC clash is set to start at 4 p.m.