LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The trio of Emily Brunie (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley), Ashley Gochenaur (Lancaster, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg) and Alex O'Herrick (Barto, Pa./Boyertown) paved the way for the Bald Eagles, each played a pivotal role in No. 19 Lock Haven University lacrosse team's (7-5, 4-3 PSAC) 13-12 upset-win over bitter-rival and 11^th ranked West Chester University (8-3, 5-2 PSAC).
 
The Bald Eagles and Golden Rams – both Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) perennial powers and huge rivals, who've combined to win 28 conference championships – certainly didn't disappoint today, as it proved to be another exciting and thrilling chapter in the book that is Lock Haven – West Chester women's lacrosse.
 
Brunie was sensational and sparked LHU's offensive effort. She finished with five goals and two assists. Gochenuar was impressive as well and scored four goals, to go along with two ground balls and two caused turnovers. O'Herrick also played well and finished with three assists, two caused turnovers, and she grabbed seven of Lock Haven's 19 draw controls, which proved to be a difference maker again.
 
Hannah Houde (Jackson, N.J./Slippery Rock Univ.) made seven saves, but her biggest play of the game and one that iced the victory was a caused-turnover late in the game. With just one minute remaining and Lock Haven up one, 13-12 she picked off a pass from behind the net, as the Golden Rams looked to the tie the game.
 
Shannon Bissnette (Pittsford, N.Y./Pittsford Sutherland) added two goals and two assists.
 
Defensively, Katie McDonough (Oakdale, N.Y./Connetquot), Sam Dotterer (Shillington, Pa./Governor Mifflin), Emily Gerhart (Barto, Pa./Boyertown) and Madison Eberly (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township) all played well and helped force nine total West Chester turnovers.
 
The Golden Rams raced out to an early 3-0 lead, but Lock Haven battled back and it was 3-3 less than 10 minutes into the game.
 
LHU led 8-6 at halftime and kept the offense rolling early in the first half.
 
Brunie scored with 8:12 left in the game to make it 13-11, but West Chester didn't go away and cut the lead to one (13-12) with 3:46 to play.
 
In the end, LHU stood tall, thanks in large part to Houde's last-minute heroics.
 
The Bald Eagles will head to Slippery Rock University for a Saturday (April 15) PSAC contest at 1 p.m.