EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. – The No. 22 Kutztown University women's soccer team wasted no time in putting its new ranking to the test, traveling to No. 3 East Stroudsburg for a midweek Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) showdown on Wednesday afternoon.
 
In a matchup of two of the top three teams in the Atlantic Region, Alex Pickett's 21st minute goal for third-ranked East Stroudsburg (10-1, 10-0 PSAC) proved to be the difference in a defensive battle that did not disappoint.
 
The loss snapped a five-match winning streak for KU (8-3, 6-3), who could manage just two shots on goal throughout the 90 minutes against the seventh-best defense in the NCAA based on goals against average, both of which came by senior Alaina Curry (York, Pa./Dallastown Area) in the span of 1:36 in the 26th and 28th minute.
 
Freshman Cara Griffith (Dickson City, Pa./Scranton Prep) was the only other Golden Bear with multiple shot attempts on the evening, sending Kutztown's final attempt of the contest wide in the 65th minute.
 
Despite a 17-8 advantage in total shots, ESU did not achieve much success offensively either, totaling just four attempts on net itself.  
 
Both teams were held without a shot on frame for the final 46:58.
 
Kutztown utilized both of its goalies in the contest, with sophomore Imani Taylor (Voorhees, N.J./Eastern Regional) stopping three of the four shots she faced in the opening 45 minutes before freshman Jenna Bracken (Wanaque, N.J./Lakeland Regional) came on after the break to save the only attempt she faced in the 54th minute.  
 
Jules Harris recorded her ninth shutout of the year for East Stroudsburg.

Despite the setback, KU remained in the top-five of the PSAC with 18 points, just three points out of fourth place with a match in hand.
 
The Golden Bears look to bounce this Saturday, Oct. 8 against Clarion (2-8-2, 2-7-2), welcoming the Golden Eagles to Keystone Field for a 12 p.m start.