Box Score ERIE, Pa. – Senior captain
Alyssa Ryan (North Wales, Pa./Wissahickon) is a two-year captain of the Kutztown University women's soccer team, and she showed her leadership by scoring the game's only goal in a 1-0 win over Gannon University Saturday afternoon at the McConnell Family Stadium in Erie.
Ryan gave the Golden Bears (4-1 overall, 2-1 PSAC) the lead with her second goal in as many games, and second of the season. Her 15th-minute strike from inside the 18-yard box came off a cross into the box by freshman
Kayla Argen (Cresco, Pa./Pocono Mountain East), her second assist this season.
It is the third consecutive victory for Kutztown and second straight in the conference, after a 1-0 setback to Slippery Rock in the PSAC-opener back on Sept. 1. KU now jumps into the top-half of the PSAC standings and helped itself out by taking down the previously unbeaten Golden Knights (3-1, 2-1). KU has also beaten Gannon three straight times. Gannon had beaten Clarion, Edinboro and Notre Dame (OH), the team that knocked Kutztown out of the Atlantic Regional First Round last season.
Kutztown has now won all four of its games this season in shutout-fashion. Junior goalie
Jenna Bracken (Wanaque, N.J./Lakeland Regional) recorded the shutout, her third win and third scoreless start of the year. She now has 14 career saves, ranking in a tie for third all-time in program history. Bracken finished Saturday with five saves.
Both teams had their chances in the first half, as KU outshot Gannon 6-5 with Argen leading the way with three efforts. The Golden Knights actually outshot the Golden Bears 14-12 overall, but another stout defensive effort from Bracken and KU defenders
Kristina Miller (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn),
Kaylee Kupiec (Deptford, N.J./Gloucester Catholic),
Erica Monte Carlo (Sewell, N.J./Washington Township) and
Anna Hull (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) prevented any balls from finding the back of the net. The Kutztown defense has allowed just one goal through five games.
Kutztown entered the game averaging a league-best 8.25 corners per game, ended Saturday with just one corner compared with four by Gannon.
Kutztown returns home for three consecutive games beginning on Wednesday, Sept. 12 with a match against Millersville University at 3 p.m. at Keystone Field. KU will not hit the road again until Wednesday, Sept. 26.
