KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The Kutztown University women's lacrosse team led ninth-ranked West Chester University 5-1 midway through the first half, but West Chester grabbed 16 of the following 20 draw controls to not only erase its deficit, but pull away and maintain possession as it avoided an upset on Wednesday with a 16-9 win over Kutztown at Keystone Field.
 
The Golden Bears (5-3, 1-3 PSAC) opened up Wednesday's Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) with five of the game's first six goals. KU scored early and often, including four within a 4:00 span, to lead 5-1 with 16:54 left in the first half.
 
West Chester (6-1, 2-1) answered with five straight goals to take a 6-5 lead. The teams traded goals down the stretch as a West Chester goal at the buzzer gave it an 8-7 lead at the break.
 
In the second half, West Chester grabbed 10-of-11 draw controls, highlighted by a game-high seven by Emily McAleer. From there, the Golden Rams methodically built their lead and maintained possession effectively, therefore limiting Kutztown's ability to move in transition and mount a comeback.
 
After an even first half, West Chester pulled away and out-shot Kutztown by 10 in the second half for a 29-19 advantage. There were 48 total shots, but just 12 combined saves.
 
West Chester's final advantage in draw controls was 19-7.
 
Freshman Makayla Bowman (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn) notched her second hat-trick of the season with a team-high three goals.
 
Sarah Gabriele (Felton, Pa./York Catholic), Kutztown's leading scorer this season, scored twice on Wednesday along with a team-high three assists for a five-point day. Gabriele, a sophomore, notched her 56th career goal and 72nd career point on Wednesday, both good for ninth all-time in program history.
 
Lauren Huggins (Media, Pa./Penncrest) also had three assists for a team-high 13 this season.
 
Junior defender Courtney O'Neill (Stratford, N.J./Sterling) was held without a caused turnover for the first time this season and remains in a tie for the school-record at 83.
 
The Golden Bears return to action this weekend and remain against nationally-ranked competition. They travel to Erie to play seventh-ranked Mercyhurst University on Saturday, March 26 beginning at 11 a.m.