KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The Kutztown University women's lacrosse team suffered a heartbreaking loss to Slippery Rock University on Monday afternoon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) action, falling in overtime 7-6.
 
Makayla Bowman (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn) posted four goals to lead KU, her second consecutive four-goal game, netting all four tallies in the second half. Sarah Gabriele (Felton, Pa./York Catholic) added two goals and one assist to round out the Golden Bear scoring on a day where both defenses had their way for much of the game.
 
SRU edged ahead 3-1 by the halftime whistle, scoring two goals in the final 6:13, including its final one of the half with three seconds to go. Both goaltenders had a lot to do with the low-scoring affair, especially in the first half, as Slippery Rock's Emily Bitka and KU's Haley Kline (Reading, Pa./Wilson West Lawn) had seven and six saves, respectively, in the first 30 minutes.
 
Bowman scored two goals in the first ten minutes of the second half to tie the game at 3-all, setting it up for what would be a thrilling finish. After a Rock goal put it ahead 4-3, Kutztown answered with two goals, one from Gabriele followed by Bowman's third of the game to pull in front for the first time, 5-4.
 
SRU again tied it at 5-5 before a Bowman goal put the Maroon and Gold up 6-5 with 6:19 to go. Kutztown did its best to maintain its slim margin, but Slippery Rock capitalized on a foul called on KU in front of the net with 1:12 to go. On the restart, SRU's Tia Torchia found a cutting Tori Penders, whom beat Kline to tie it at 6 a-piece.
 
Slippery Rock had the final chance in regulation to claim the victory, earning a free position chance with one second to go, but the SRU shot was well wide, sending the game into sudden-death overtime. The Maroon and Gold won the opening draw control in the extra session, but a shot from Gabriele was denied by Bitka to get the ball back to the Rock. With 3:41 left in overtime, SRU's ShyAnne Toomer slotted home the free position shot to give her team the victory in dramatic fashion.
 
Kline made a total of 12 saves for Kutztown, but takes the loss in overtime, falling to 6-6 and playing all 62:19 of the game. Bitka earns the win, stopping 11 shots, to move to 8-3 on the season.
 
KU (6-6, 3-4 PSAC) will take on East Stroudsburg University on Wednesday, April 11 at ESU at 4 p.m.