KUTZTOWN, Pa. – No. 16 Kutztown University women's soccer junior goalie Jenna Bracken (Wanaque, N.J./Lakeland Regional) made a career-high 11 saves and helped secure two first-half goals from Emily Zwiercan (Reinholds, Pa./Cocalico) and Maddie Mohr (Elizabethtown, Pa./Elizabethtown Area) as KU hung on to defeat Millersville University 2-1 in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) game Wednesday afternoon at Keystone Field.
 
Bracken was forced to dive high and low, left and right to cover every inch of the net as the Marauders came full-steam ahead in the second half.
 
In the first half it looked to be all Golden Bears (5-1 overall, 3-1 PSAC). The junior forward Zwiercan curled in a perfectly-placed shot past the outstretched arms of the Millersville (4-1, 3-1) goalie just 0:50 into the game. It was the fastest goal KU has scored in a game since Oct. 13, 2017 at Mansfield when Alyssa Ryan (North Wales, Pa./Wissahickon) found the back of the net in 0:41.
 
Less than 10 minutes later Mohr got up to get her head on the other end of a corner kick by Erica Monte Carlo (Sewell, N.J./Washington Township). It was Mohr's first goal of the season after tying for the team-lead last year with 14. Mohr hopes that finally seeing the ball go into the net gives her some momentum moving forward.
 
"I was glad to be able to score and help the team get a win," said Mohr. "Millersville is a great team, and a physical team, and they always give us their best shot."
 
Kutztown outshot Millersville 8-4 in the first half, and the two-goal lead proved to not only allow for a confident group at halftime, but also a less-confident Marauders side. But whatever Millersville head coach Matt Procopio said to his players in the halftime huddle, sparked the group.
 
Millersville looked like a different team, moving the ball down the field and threatening at net for a majority of the half. The Marauders outshot the Golden Bears 20-3 in the second half. They finally broke through in the 50th minute and threatened until the final whistle blew.
 
Bracken, however, made sure that that would be the only damage, picking up her fourth victory of the season, and giving KU its fourth straight victory.
 
"We just had to stay together as a defense," said Bracken. "That began with me and [captain] Kristina [Miller]. We all had each other's backs and just pulled together as a team to stop them."
 
Millersville also held a 10-4 advantage in corner kicks.
 
Kutztown hosts California (PA) Saturday, Sept. 15 at 1 p.m. at Keystone Field. It will be Youth Camper Day.