Box Score

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University men's soccer team scored two first-half goals in a span of less than four minutes on Saturday afternoon en route to a win over PSAC foe West Chester, 3-1, from David See Field.

The Raiders (8-4-2, 3-3-2 PSAC) kicked off their scoring nearly 23 minutes into the contest when sophomore Jonathan DeNicola took advantage of a fallen West Chester (4-8-3, 0-5-3 PSAC) goalkeeper for his second goal of the season, off an assist from freshman Fred Lucas.

At the 26:40 mark of the half, sophomore Tom Stagg raced up the right side of the field with the ball, and just before the end line, sent a pass into the middle. A streaking Derrick Roy got a piece of the ball, as his foot redirected the shot into the goal for a 2-0 SU lead.

The Golden Rams cut their deficit in half nearly 13 minutes into the second period when, after a Shippensburg foul, WCU was awarded a free kick in front of the goal. Neil Gallagher took the kick and sent a ball over the heads of everyone, and Raiders' junior goalkeeper Andrew Foran couldn't come up with the save on the right side of the net.

The Raiders regained their two-goal lead six minutes later, when sophomore Logan Kuhn pushed the ball up the right side. Kuhn got off a shot that bounced over the goalkeeper and hit the cross bar, but Lucas came running in from the left side and tapped the loose ball into the empty net for his third goal of the year.

Lucas finished the game with a team-high four shots, while Foran made three saves.

Shippensburg still needs a victory over California (Pa.) next weekend and some help if it is to qualify for the PSAC tournament.

However, the Raiders entered this weekend ranked No. 4 in the NCAA Atlantic Region rankings, which in a sense puts the team in a position to control its own destiny for the NCAA postseason. A victory over the Vulcans, who currently sit atop the Atlantic Region rankings, would give the Raiders a 9-4-1 regional record at the end of the regular season with wins over five of the other eight ranked teams.

SU will play its final regular season home game at 6 p.m. Wednesday in a non-conference matchup against NYIT from David See Field.

Current PSAC Standings:
1. Millersville 6-1 18 pts. (at LHU, at WCU)
2. California 5-1-1 16 pts. (vs. SHIP)
3. Lock Haven 5-2 15 pts. (vs. MILL, at ROCK)
4. Mercyhurst 4-4 12 pts. (vs. GU)
T5. Shippensburg 3-3-2 11 pts. (at CAL)
T5. East Stroudsburg 3-3-2 11 pts. (at BU)
7. Bloomsburg 3-4-1 10 pts. (vs. ESU)

* The top four teams qualify for the PSAC tournament. Millersville, California and Lock Haven have clinched playoff berths.