West Chester returns to the DI spring final four, but it was no easy road. UVA wanted that return bid to Pittsburgh, and the fact that the duo played each other two weeks ago meant that both sides had targeted game plans in place. But the Rams were able to enforce their style of play better and won 28-9.

“It was a pretty physical first half, and it was very defense oriented,” West Chester coach Tony DeRemer said. “Both teams were surely worried about the final point totals being low, so both benches elected to take points when they were given the opportunity. At that stage, points were hard to come by for either team, so we were playing the chess game.”

After No. 8 Erin Gallagher opened up the game with a try, UVA scrumhalf Bri Kim hit the first of her three first-half penalties. West Chester flyhalf Katie Walston contributed two as well, but a converted try from Olivia Grassi gave the Rams an 18-9 lead at half.

In the second stanza, West Chester put All Americans Nicole Benedetti and Arielle Gantt into the try zone.

“We were able to win our possession more this time around, and we were pretty patient in putting phases together,” DeRemer said. “A huge credit goes to UVA for their strong defense. Although we tried to prepare for it, we made some errors that were forced by them.”

An even bigger credit goes to the West Chester defense, which not only kept its try zone untouched but cleaned up its game when playing in Kim’s striking range.

“We knew they had some big strong runners in their centers, and some quickness with Brianna Kim, Joy Jefferson, and Peyton Larus,” DeRemer said. “If you let UVA get momentum in attack, then they are hard to stop, so we had to make our first-up tackles, which we did.

"Today was one of those full-out team efforts that you love to see as a coach," DeRemer beamed. "Everyone gave their all to support our ballcarriers, and everyone gave 80 minutes on defense. I'm so proud of them for their overall effort not only today, but all weekend."

West Chester returns to the spring final four for the second consecutive year to play BYU, while Life and Central Washington duel in the other. The spring championship occurs April 24-25 in Pittsburgh, and the victor will play Penn State on May 9 for the national title.

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