Box Score West Chester, Pa. – (8/30/2012) – The Chestnut Hill College women's soccer team opened the 2012 season this evening with tough competition at West Chester University. The Golden Rams were aggressive in front of their home crowd, gaining a 1-0 halftime lead thanks to a 17-0 shot advantage and overrunning the Griffins to a 6-0 final with five second-half scores.
 
Chestnut Hill College (0-1) fended off the West Chester University (1-0) for the opening 28:55, but the aggressive Golden Ram attack eventually broke through on a connection between senior midfielder Rachel Miller (Parkesburg, Pa.) and senior defenseman Diana Rowan (Langhorne, Pa.). The Golden Rams extended their lead to 2-0 only 10:37 into the second half and on the effort of sophomore midfielder Ashley Saylor (Chalfont, Pa.), who recorded two goals (60:34 and 70:40) and an assist (Yost, 61:23) in a ten-minute span to push the home team to a 5-0 lead with less than twenty minutes remaining. Another late Golden Ram goal (78:33) would settle the season opener on a 6-0 final.
 
Saylor's five points led the Golden Rams, who also received goals from Rowan, senior forward Melissa McKeary (River Vale, N.J.), sophomore forward Carly Yost (North Wales, Pa.), and freshman forward Cora Littlejohns (Flemington, N.J.). Sophomore goalkeeper Shannon Fedyk (Humelstown, Pa.) one save to earn the shutout victory (1-0).
 
Seniors midfielders Alyssa Radetich (Sewell, N.J.) and Shannon Catts (Elmer, N.J.) were responsible for the Griffins only shots in the contest. Radetich took an early second-half run on goal, but came away empty handed on Fedyk's lone deny. Catts fired a wide strike just after the Golden Rams second score. Sophomore goalkeeper Samantha Pauls (South Plainfield, N.J.) and senior goalkeeper Jessica Veazey (Middletown, Del.) split time in goal for the Griffins, Veazey made nine saves in the opening 66:15 (0-1), while Pauls made four saves in the final 23:45.

The women's soccer team returns to campus for their home opener, as the Griffins host Millersville University in a 1:00 p.m. contest at the Plymouth Whitemarsh High School Football Stadium on Saturday, September 1.