Wilt

SHEPHERDSTOWN — The fourth time was not the charm. Shepherd University was playing, visiting West Chester University for the fourth time in the 2025 women’s soccer season. The conference champion Rams had previously posted a win and two other games between the PSAC (Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference) rivals had ended in ties.

The latest game came last Sunday in the Atlantic Regional championship game. And it went to West Chester, 1-0, with late goal in the 85th minute that became the lone score on the breezy and chilled afternoon.

West Chester, the school with 18,000 students and athletic funding oozing from its pores, was winning its seventh overall Regional crown and will play Franklin Pierce next for the right to move on to the NCAA Division II national tournament semifinals. Shepherd was losing for only the second time all season.

Sunday’s match was scoreless for the longest time.

The first half was contested primarily in the midfield with the Rams’ defense keeping West Chester away from any meaningful scoring opportunities.

Beezel

In those first 45 minutes of play, West Chester had four runs into Shepherd territory.

The closest either team came to scoring in the opening half came when West Chester’s Kianna Barber had her shot knocked away by Ram goal keeper Hannah Wilt.

Shepherd was unable to attempt any shots in the opening half.

The homestanding Rams did attempt six shots in the first 11 minutes of the second half.

Josie Beezel’s shot in the 49th minute was negated by a diving save from goal keeper Grace Keen.

Adrianna Morales took a shot in the 59th minute with a Beezel shot-attempt sailing over the crossbar in the 61st minute.

The stalemated game remained at 0-0, as the time rolled by the 80th minute.

In the 85th minute, a West Chester shot hit the crossbar and bounced down, landing on the goal line. Barber followed up that near-miss, got control and scored what would eventually become the tense afternoon’s only point.

Needing a goal of its own to keep its season flowing toward the national quarterfinals, Shepherd had Lydia Gable make a shot-attempt in the 87th minute and then Reagan Ackermann get a shot in the 89th minute. Neither shot found the West Chester net.

In shots attempted, Shepherd had 17 and West Chester 10. Shots on goal were even at five each. Wilt had four saves and Keen had five saves.

Shepherd’s final record was 12-2-6. West Chester moved on to face Franklin Pierce, the same team that eliminated Shepherd far along the tournament path in 2024.

There won’t be a fifth meeting between Shepherd and West Chester this season.