KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The Kutztown University women's soccer team won its program-record-tying eighth straight game and clinched a berth in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament with its 2-1 win over Gannon University at a chilly Keystone Field on Wednesday afternoon.
The 23rd-ranked Golden Bears (11-3, 10-3 PSAC) carry an eight-game winning streak dating back to a 2-0 win over then-16th-ranked California (PA) on Sept. 27. KU has held a scoring advantage of 20-4 during the run with five shutouts including four in a row. The streak ties the program's record for consecutive wins, along with the 2004 and 2008 teams.
The win also guarantees Kutztown a spot in the PSAC Tournament, beginning on Tuesday, Nov. 4. KU's 10 conference wins has earned it 30 points for third in the PSAC. Notably, Kutztown has already defeated two of the top four teams in the conference (East Stroudsburg & California (PA)), and would hold the tiebreaker against those teams in the final seeding.
This is the seventh consecutive year that the Golden Bears will compete in the postseason, as they continue their search for the program's first-ever PSAC Championship.
Wednesday's win did not come easy, as Gannon (7-8, 7-7) applied pressure throughout the game as it continues its fight toward a playoff spot. In a tied game coming out of the break, Kutztown took advantage of a free kick near the sideline in the 50th minute.
Morgan Staley (Landenberg, Pa./Kennett) sent the kick to
Logan Kramer (Millersville, Pa./Penn Manor (Arkansas State)) in the penalty box, who headed the pass to senior captain
Sam Costello (Westfield, N.J./Westfield). A one-time shot found its way into the back of the net for the game-winner.
The score was Costello's team-leading seventh of the year as the striker now has 14 points in her last five games. It was her 21st career goal to tie her for fifth in program history with Julie Folsom (2004-07). Costello has 62 points in her career and needs one more to move into fifth in program history.
Sophomore
Alaina Curry (York, Pa./Dallastown Area) gave Kutztown the early one-goal advantage in the 12th minute. Coming off a corner kick and a scramble in the box, Kramer made a sliding attempt to pass the ball to Curry, who beat the Gannon goalkeeper to her right for her sixth goal of the year.
Gannon's only goal of the afternoon might have been due to a rain-soaked ball and field, as a free kick from 30 yards out in the 41st minute slipped off the hands of the KU keeper and went into the net.
Kutztown aims for its record-breaking ninth straight win on Saturday, Oct. 25 and travels to Gannon's hometown of Erie to take on the Lakers of Mercyhurst University (4-10-1, 3-9-1). KU earned a 7-1 win on Senior Day last year against Mercyhurst.
