ERIE, Pa. – Cara Griffith (Dickson City, Pa./Scranton Prep) scored for the fifth match in a row, netting the game-winner in the 58th minute as the No. 22 Kutztown University women's soccer overcame a 1-0 halftime deficit with two early second half goals to comeback and defeat Mercyhurst 2-1 for a crucial Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) victory on Saturday afternoon.
 
The win gave Kutztown (13-3, 11-3) its second five-match winning streak of the year, as the Maroon and Gold has now won 10 of their last 11. The result also means that with two points from their final two matches, KU will secure a top-four seed in the PSAC and therefore a home Quarterfinal game. With 33 points, the fourth-place Golden Bears are currently one point out of second place.
 
After Mercyhurst (7-7-2, 6-7-2 PSAC) converted a 34th minute penalty kick, it was Katie Miller (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn) who sparked the comeback with her second headed goal of the season 5:18 out of the break. Erica Monte Carlo (Sewell, N.J./Washington Township) curled in a free kick to the front of net and Miller out-jumped everybody to find the back of the frame from five yards out.
 
The defender's second score of the season, Miller matched her career-high from her freshman year with two goals after not scoring as a sophomore or junior.
                                                      
For fellow defender Monte Carlo, it was her third assist of the year.
 
Just over seven minutes later, it was a freshman duo that gave Kutztown the lead for good.
 
Maddie Mohr (Elizabethtown, Pa./Elizabethtown Area) blasted a shot that ricocheted off the post right to a waiting Griffith. The rookie collected the rebound and fired a shot into the back of the net with 32:30 remaining for the eventual game-winner.
 
The KU defense held on from there, allowing just one shot the remainder of the afternoon, an attempt that was blocked in the 64th minute.
 
Griffith has now scored six times during her five-match streak to extend her team-lead in goals to seven, a number that ranks tied for fifth in the PSAC. She is tied for the league-lead with four game-winning goals.
 
Mohr is also moving her way up the PSAC rankings, as her team-best fifth assist puts her in a tie for fourth in the conference. Her 17 points also rank fourth.
 
After an even first half in which Kutztown held a slight 6-5 advantage in shots, the Maroon and Gold came out with their foot on the pedal in second half, outshooting Mercyhurst 11-2. KU also had eight corners on the afternoon and held the Lakers to just two.
 
Aside from the penalty kick, Mercyhurst had just two shots on goal in the match, both in the opening 17 minutes, as Jenna Bracken (Wanaque, N.J./Lakeland Regional) made two saves in the win.
 
KU's home-finale is on Tuesday, Oct. 25, when Pitt-Johnstown visits Keystone Field for a 3 p.m. first whistle.