West Chester University advances to Division 2 Final Four with 2-0 win over Adelphi

For the first time since 1961, West Chester University men’s soccer is one of the last four teams left standing after a 2-0 win over Adelphi booked the Golden Rams a spot in the NCAA Division II final four.

After a scoreless first half, West Chester grabbed a lead early in the second half when Daniel Grindrod collected a headed flick from a long goal kick by Will Marshall, ran through a couple defenders and found Doug Goitia in the box pass through traffic. Goitia took a touch and put it past the Adelphi keeper to put the Golden Rams up.

West Chester nearly doubled the lead in the 61st minute when Shane Hartey got behind the defense but he had his shot denied by a great save from Adelphi keeper Matt Apicella. The insurance goal did come in the 74th minute on a strange play that started with a corner kick from Brett Miller. Miller’s kick hit the near post and took another deflection before falling in front of goal to Stephen Thompson, who put the ball away to double West Chester’s lead.

Marshall was forced into his only save of the day on a free kick in the 77th minute and the defense limited Adelphi’s chances in the closing minutes to secure the clean sheet and punch a Final Four ticket for the first time in the school’s Division 2 era.

West Chester won the NCAA Tournament in 1961 before the division split after appearing in the first two Final Fours in 1959 and 1960. They’ll face the winner of Cal Poly Pomona and West Texas A&M on November 29th at Highmark Stadium in Pittsburgh, home of the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. The final will be played on December 1.