CHARLESTON, W. Va. - The Kutztown University women's lacrosse team improved its 2016 record to 2-0 on Sunday with an impressive 18-4 victory over The University of Charleston at University of Charleston Stadium.
 
Kutztown (2-0) jumped out in front with a goal just 1:03 into the contest. Freshman Lauren Schmidt (Hanover, Pa./South Western) connected on her first of six goals in the game on a free position shot that would give the Golden Bears a lead it would not relinquish the rest of the way.
 
Madison Carlucci (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley) followed with a goal of her own at the 26:16 mark in the first half to extend KU's lead to 2-0. Schmidt netted her second goal of the contest at the 17:41 mark in the first half on an assist from Lauren Huggins (Media, Pa./Penncrest) to give Kutztown a 3-0 advantage.
 
The Golden Bears would score the first five goals of the game before Charleston got on the board at the 13:24 mark in the first half. Kutztown went into the half with a commanding 9-3 lead over the Golden Eagles.
 
KU started off the second half with two goals from freshman Emily Smith (Philadelphia, Pa./Saint Hubert Catholic) in a 33-second span at the 29:22 and 28:49 marks in the period to give itself an 11-3 lead. Smith scored four goals in the second half and five in the entire game. Huggins assisted on both of Smith's early second half goals.
 
Charleston connected on its fourth and final goal of the game at the 26:37 mark in the second half to cut KU's lead to 12-4. Kutztown went on to score the final six goals of the game and finished with an impressive 18-4 victory.
 
Schmidt's six goals are tied for the fourth-most in a game in KU history and it is the first time since 2012 that a Golden Bear scored six or more goals in a contest.
 
Smith was second on the team with five goals. Carlucci recorded two goals and an assist, while sophomore Sarah Gabriele (Felton, Pa./York Catholic) had two goals, an assist and a team-high eight draw controls.
 
Huggins, Aimee Beck (Green Lane, Pa./Pennridge) and Makayla Bowman (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn) each recorded a goal for KU. Huggins had a team-high three assists. Junior Courtney O'Neill (Stratford, N.J./Sterling) recorded three draw controls to move her into a tie for the fifth-most in KU history with 57.
 
Sophomore Jen Bergey (Souderton, Pa./Souderton) had three saves in her second consecutive start at goalkeeper for the Golden Bears.
 
Kutztown's 18 goals today were the most for the team since it scored 19 in a win over Young Harris on March 18, 2014. KU outshot Charleston, 39-11, and caused 23 turnovers. Kutztown also had a decisive advantage in draw controls with 17 to just seven for the Golden Eagles.
 
The Golden Bears return to action tomorrow, Monday March 7, at 2 p.m. at Alderson Broaddus in Philippi, W. Va.