West Chester Rustin’s seniors lead the way past Downingtown West

Westtown >> All season long, West Chester Rustin’s girls soccer team has relied on strong defense and excellent goaltending to achieve success. It proved to be the winning formula once again in arguably the Golden Knights’ biggest game of the season. On a chilly Wednesday evening, they held off Downingtown West 1-0 to capture the Ches-Mont League’s best record for the second-straight season.

“Our defense holds us up all the time,” senior Erin Moran said. “We’ve worked hard on that all season long. This win feels so amazing.”

Despite being outshot 6-2 in the first 40 minutes, the Golden Knights (12-1, 15-2) found themselves in a scoreless tie at halftime.

“Downingtown West is such a good team,” Rustin’s coach Peter Rohall said. “Our girls gutted it out on every single play tonight.”

In the final frame Rohall’s seniors stole the show. Eight minutes into the last stanza, their goalie Julie Griesemer made the save of the night. After West centered a pass to the left, Griesemer was able to fully extend her body and deny Hannah Hirth from 10-yards out.

“They crossed it and I honestly thought it was going in,” the senior goalkeeper said. “Something caused me to go to my right and I was able to save it. Luckily it gave our team some momentum and we were able to capitalize.”

It took less than two minutes for her teammates to reward her for her efforts. On their second corner of the game, senior captain Cassie Cheeseman lofted a gorgeous pass to Moran who buried it top-right.

“I was trying to line it up right at the six (yard mark),” Chesseman said. “Erin is so good in the air, I tried to get it right there for her.”

While the goal looked easy to their home crowd, the duo has been working on that play regularly at practice.

“We’ve been practicing corners all year,” Moran said with a smile. “Cassie made a great pass. Our coaches have challenged me to score a goal off a corner all season, to get it on a night like this is awesome.”

For the remaining 30 minutes their defense took care of the rest. The Whippets (11-2, 12-4-1) had their chances but weren’t able to convert.

“We made a lot of good plays tonight,” West’s coach Wes Davis said. “We had chances, especially in the first half. We may not have gotten the results we wanted tonight but a game like this will get our team ready for the playoffs.”

Besides Hirth’s shot that was robbed, their best opportunity came with 4:05 left in regulation. The Whippets had a corner opportunity that had a chance, but once again Griesemer stonewalled them.

“They had been setting it up at the end of the box all night,” Griesemer said. “On that last one they shot it closer to me. I kind of bobbled it but I was able to get it back.

Rustin now waits to hear who its opponent is in the District 1 Class AAA playoffs that begin next week.

As for Downingtown West they conclude regular-season play Friday at home against Strath Haven.