KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The Kutztown University women's soccer team was inches away from netting the game-winning goal with just under 0:05 remaining, but the shot went wide. Slippery Rock University then capitalized on its next scoring chance, breaking the scoreless drought in the fifth minute of overtime to win 1-0 Saturday afternoon at Keystone Field in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) action.
 
Junior forward Emily Zwiercan (Reinholds, Pa./Cocalico) was dribbling near the side of the 18-yard box with a defender attached to her side. She moved towards the top of the 18 with a few quick dribbles to make space for a shot. When she curled an effort with the inside of her left foot, the clock was winding down under 0:05. It would have been a dream finish for KU, but the ball curved just on the outside of the far left post, narrowly missing a second straight winner for Zwiercan.
 
Seeing the game flash before their eyes must have alerted the Rock players to step up their offensive efforts.
 
A little over four minutes into the first overtime period, a Slippery Rock defender lobbed a pass from near midfield to Madison Johnson. The ball took one bounce and with her back facing the goal, flicked it over her and a KU defender into the six-yard box. Jordyn Minda was the first to the ball and slotted it into the lower left corner for the game-winner.
 
It was KU's first loss to Slippery Rock since 2015 and its first PSAC-opening defeat since it lost 1-0 to Millersville in 2016. That season, Kutztown went on to win 20 of the next 24 games, reaching the conference championship game and NCAA Final Four.
 
The Golden Bears outshot the Rock 19-13, but just 9-8 on shots on goal. KU also held an 8-5 advantage in corner kicks.
 
Junior goalie Jenna Bracken (Wanaque, N.J./Lakeland Regional) finished with a season-high seven saves and kept her team in the contest with a couple of important saves throughout the game.
 
Kutztown won't have to think about this one too much as it has a quick turnaround on its next game. KU will travel to take on Shepherd University tomorrow, Sunday, at 1 p.m. in a non-conference matchup.