NSCAA National Rankings
KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The Kutztown University women's soccer team clinched a home match in next Tuesday's Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Quarterfinals with a 5-0 shutout of Pitt-Johnstown on a chilly afternoon at Keystone Field on Tuesday.
With the victory, KU (14-3, 12-3 PSAC) tied the 2011 NCAA Tournament team for most regular season wins in program history, while also tying the program record set by the 2014 NCAA Tournament team for regular season PSAC victories.
Kutztown will have an opportunity to break both of those records at Slippery Rock on Saturday, Oct. 29, where a win will assure the Golden Bears of at least a top-three seed in the PSAC Tournament.
Currently with 36 points with one match to play, KU could potentially be seeded anywhere from second to fourth. West Chester has clinched the No. 1 seed.
Earlier in the day, KU made the biggest jump of any team in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America national rankings, moving up eight positions to No. 14, its second-highest ranking in program history. The Golden Bears reached No. 9 on Sept. 15, 2009.
Kutztown also moved up in the Atlantic Region Poll to No. 2, improving from last weekend's No. 3 ranking. The Maroon and Gold were also No. 2 in the NCAA Atlantic Region Rankings that were released last Wednesday and eventually determine the seeding in the NCAA Tournament. The top six teams in the Atlantic Region qualify for the NCAA Tournament.
Five different players scored Kutztown's five goals, which were its most since scoring five in a win at Mansfield on Nov. 1, 2014. It was the Maroon and Gold's largest shutout victory since blanking Meryhurst by the same scoreline on Oct. 13, 2012.
Dana Wong (West Milford, N.J./West Milford) had two assists, surpassing her career total of one from her first 52 career matches.
The Golden Bears did however struggle to find its finishing touch throughout most of the opening 45 minutes after
Alaina Curry (York, Pa./Dallastown Area) opened the scoring in the fifth minute. Wong's long throw-in found the head of
Alyssa Ryan (North Wales, Pa./Wissahickon), who flicked it on in front of net for a waiting Curry to tap in. The senior's fourth goal of 2016 gave Wong and Ryan their first assists of the campaign.
Despite dominating the ball and outshooting Pitt-Johnstown (0-16-1, 0-15-1) 12-0 in the first half, the 1-0 scoreline held up until halftime.
The KU offense needed a spark and
Ashley Engler (Williamstown, N.J./Williamstown) provided it with a 25-yard strike just 8:50 out of the break. The freshman collected the ball and sent her blast into the top right corner for her third goal of the season.
Just 6:29 later,
Olivia Novak (Manheim, Pa./Manheim Central (Temple)) sent a cross towards the top of the box, and with the opposing goalkeeper charging hard, freshman
Kaylee Kupiec (Deptford, N.J./Gloucester Catholic) stretched her leg out to just beat her too the ball and give Novak her first career KU assist on her third goal in 2016.
It was yet another freshman,
Megan Kelly (Shoreham, N.Y./Shoreham-Wading River), adding her name to the scoresheet with just under ten minutes to play. Again it was Wong providing the assist, as she sent a long ball that bounced high, and with the opposing goalkeeper charging once again, Kelly possessed the composure to chip it over her goalie's head on a volley for her first career goal.
Hannah Oren (Wind Gap, Pa./Nazareth Area) joined Kelly in scoring her first goal on the year, as she tapped in
Felicia Silveira (Hampton, N.J./Voorhees)'s net-bound shot with 4:37 remaining, giving Silveira her first career assist.
The final shot total ended 35-2 in Kutztown's favor. The Golden Bears also had 11 corners while holding Pitt-Johnstown to zero.
Imani Taylor (Voorhees, N.J./Eastern Regional) stopped the only shot she faced to secure her fifth shutout of the season and lower her goals against average to .547, which is third in the PSAC.
