Shepherd University sophomore Merritt Delk, left, celebrates opening the second half of Saturday night’s game, scoring with an unassisted goal at the 54:39 mark. Courtesy photo

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. — Even though it had managed the tempo in its women’s soccer game, Shepherd University had to settle for just a one-goal lead, by the halftime of its conference game at Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania.

After the intermission, the Rams again had their collective hands on the throttle and scored three more goals and finished off their third straight 4-0 win by blanking the home team.

Early in the action, the Rams’ Annabelle Wunderlich scored with assists credited to Josie Beezel and Adrianna Morales. The goal came early in the opening half with just 3:49 having elapsed off the clock.

Shepherd continued its constant pressure on the Lock Haven defense, but was kept way from any further scoring until the second half commenced. Lock Haven did not find any offensive rhythm or success against the effective Ram defense.

The second half was about nine minutes deep when the once-beaten Rams scored their second goal. Merritt Delk, the team’s second-leading goal scorer, scored an unassisted goal at the 54:39 mark.

Just minutes later, a Shepherd offensive surge got it a 3-0 lead when Josie Beezel scored after accepting an assist pass from Reagan Ackermann.

It was nearing the 86-minute mark when Sarah Peternel got clear and sent her shot goalward to be rewarded with the game’s fourth goal and advancing the Ram lead out to 4-0 at the 85:44 mark.

The third consecutive 4-0 victory came on the heels of similar wins over both East Stroudsburg and Shippensburg.

Shepherd’s lone loss in a season that sees it with a 6-1-5 overall record came at the hands of Kutztown in a1-0 loss in Shepherdstown.

In this latest conference win, the Rams attempted 11 shots and Lock Have had seven. The Rams led in shots on goal 7-3.

All of Shepherd’s game decisions have been in PSAC contests, leaving their impressive 6-1-5 record the same as their overall mark. Lock Haven was 3-7-2 overall with the shutout loss.

For the season, Shepherd have scored 40 goals and their combined opponents only seven. The Rams have tried 259 shots and their combined opponents only 72.

Anaya Lozano leads the team with her 10 goals. Delk has scored seven goals and Ackermann five goals.

The regular season is fast-closing with the next home game on Oct. 29 versus West Chester at 1 p.m. Then Nov. 1 is the regular season’s final home date at 1 p.m. against Bloomsburg. The Rams close the regular season on the road at Millersville on Nov. 5.

The PSAC tournament that will supply at least one NCAA tournament team from the league is booked for its quarterfinals on Nov. 11, its semifinals on Nov. 14 and championship game on Nov. 16. The NCAA tournament is scheduled to begin with first round games on Nov. 21.