Nov. 13, 2009

Courtesy of Cal (Pa.)

KUTZTOWN, Pa. (Nov. 13) – Playing in their first NCAA post-season game in program history, the No. 23 Vulcans earned a 1-0 victory against West Virginia Wesleyan in the first round of the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional on Friday afternoon.

With the win, the California University of Pennsylvania women’s soccer team advances to face host Kutztown in the second round on Sunday, Nov. 15, at 1 p.m. The Vulcans now hold a 17-5-1 overall record this year, while the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC)-champion Bobcats end their season at 13-7-1.

Senior forward Amanda Heister (Palmyra, Pa./Northern Lebanon), who was selected the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West Athlete of the Year yesterday, scored the game-winning goal in the 17th minute off an assist from junior Sam Regney (Monaca, Pa./Monaca/Pittsburgh).

With her goal, Heister established a new all-time record with 105 career points. She was previously tied at 103 points with Hall of Famer Sherry Valera (1992-95) for the career school record. Heister leads the conference with 18 goals, which ties Kristie Strunk (1990) for second place in single-season history and is one behind the record of 19 set by Valera in 1994.

Sophomore goalkeeper Paula Jackson (Kingston, Jamaica/Wolmer's Trust) earned her 11th shutout of the season after posting four saves on eight shots. Meanwhile, sophomore Caroline Lalley made four saves on 16 shots in the loss.

In the win, the Vulcans out-shot the Bobcats by a 16-8 margin and also held a 7-5 edge in corner kicks.

The NCAA second-round game between Cal U and Kutztown will be a rematch of last weekend’s PSAC Semifinals, which the Golden Bears won 1-0