ERIE, Pa. – As it has all year, the Kutztown University women's lacrosse team has played equal to or greater than its competition all season long. It battled Gannon University on the road on a cold and windy day on the coast of Lake Erie on Saturday afternoon, but a four-goal stint over just more than 10 minutes time made the difference in Kutztown's 12-8 loss.
 
Saturday's action at the McConnell Family Stadium marked the third Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) game of the year for the Golden Bears (5-2, 1-2 PSAC). The teams were nearly identical in most statistical categories, but Gannon gained more possessions with a +6 advantage in draw controls.
 
Opportunities were certainly left on the field as both teams combined for 3-of-14 on free-position shots, including 2-for-8 by Kutztown.
 
KU trailed 4-3 with 12:23 left in the first half, but an ensuing four-goal run by the Golden Knights in 10:47 opened up their lead that Kutztown could never recover from. Beginning with 9:36 left in the half and concluding 1:11 into the second half, Gannon scored four goals to build an 8-3 lead.
 
Kutztown answered with three straight goals to claw within two with more than 23:00 to play, but another 4-0 run by Gannon ended the potential comeback.
 
Sarah Gabriele (Felton, Pa./York Catholic) scored the final two goals of the day in the final 9:31 – two of her team-high four goals on the day. She has tallied multiple points in all seven games this year and has netted a hat-trick in 5-of-7. Gabriele fired off 10 shots and continues to lead the PSAC at more than eight per game.
 
Fellow sophomore Lauren Huggins (Media, Pa./Penncrest) scored her second straight hat-trick and fifth of the season with three goals on Saturday. Madison Carlucci (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley) was KU's third scorer with one goal and two assists. She also picked up seven groundballs.
 
Defensively, Emily Smith (Philadelphia, Pa./Saint Hubert Catholic) and Courtney O'Neill (Stratford, N.J./Sterling) each caused a team-high three Gannon turnovers.
 
Abby Cox (York, Pa./West York) was tabbed with the loss in goal and made five saves.
 
For Gannon, Tessa Mitchell scored on five of her eight shots.
 
Kutztown returns home on Wednesday, March 23 to face nationally-ranked West Chester University at Keystone Field beginning at 4 p.m.