Box Score East Stroudsburg 1, Kutztown 0 (HTML Box Score)
EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. – The Kutztown University women's soccer team battled with East Stroudsburg University for the entirety of the team's season-opener on Thursday afternoon, but a goal off a free kick was the difference as Kutztown fell to ESU 1-0 in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) matchup.
The Golden Bears (0-1, 0-1 PSAC) and Warriors (1-0, 1-0) were tied at halftime as goalkeeper
Alina Rakiewicz (Denver, PA/Cocalico) and the Kutztown defense neutralized the Warrior attack on multiple occasions. For the game, Rakiewicz finished with eight saves.
ESU notched the lone goal of the afternoon in the 62nd minute of action. Michelle Gogolen lifted a free kick into the box, which was headed down inside the 6-yard box and knocked in by Shea Neal for the goal.
Kutztown did not allow a shot in the final 27:27 and continued to apply pressure down the stretch. In the 10 minutes following the ESU goal, Kutztown's
Sam Costello (Westfield, N.J./Westfield) had a shot on goal, and
Kim Nale (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee) headed a ball off a corner kick that went over the crossbar.
The Golden Bears had four additional corner kicks in the final 13 minutes, but they could not get anything past ESU keeper Brittain Wagner, who finished with eight saves in the victory.
Eight newcomers played in their first game in the Maroon and Gold Thursday afternoon, including four in the starting lineup.
Kutztown returns to action and will look to pick up a win in its home opener on Saturday, Sept. 7 at 1 p.m. against West Chester at Keystone Field.
