WEST CHESTER, Pa. -- Facing defending PSAC champion and nationally-ranked No. 4 West Chester, and down two starters, the Kutztown University women's lacrosse team kept battling. The Golden Bears outscored the Golden Rams in the second half of a 15-6 defeat Tuesday afternoon.

Defender Megan Vaughan (Prince Frederick, Md./Southern) was pressed into emergency goalie duties for the first time in her collegiate career with regular starter Haley Kline (Reading, Pa./Wilson) unavailable. The junior responded admirably with 12 saves, including eight in the first 30 minutes when West Chester (2-0 PSAC, 4-1) fired 22 shots her way. The Golden Bears were also without All-PSAC defender Devon Fitzpatrick (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee).

The Golden Rams, NCAA Division II quarterfinalists a season ago, used five goals from Ryan McKinney to open an 8-0 lead by the 13:59 mark.

Emily Smith (Philadelphia, Pa./Saint Hubert Catholic) found Lesley Lane (Jamesburg, N.J./Monroe Township) for KU's only goal of the half just over three minutes later.

Kutztown (0-2, 1-4) scored the game's final four goals. Erin Vaughan Ware (Seaford, N.Y./MacArthur) collected a pair, while Jordan Klebe (Bishopville, Md./Stephen Decatur) and Lauren Schmidt (Hanover, Pa./South Western) each tallied once.

Redshirt freshman Ellie Sorrentino (Little Egg Harbor, N.J./Pinelands Regional) also got in on the scoring during her collegiate debut with a goal and an assist.

McKinney's game-high five goals came on seven shots. Teammate Tara Morrissey had four points on two goals and two assists, while Sami Barnett, Trisha Baud and Emily Schulze added two goals apiece.

Molly Reinhart came up with four caused turnovers and a matching number of ground balls, and Maggie Stella secured a game-high six draw controls for WCU.

Amanda Lehman (York, Pa./West York Area) won five draws and picked up three ground balls for the Maroon and Gold, while Makenna Warminsky (Fogelsville, Pa./Parkland) totaled two of KU's four caused turnovers.

Kutztown heads west to take on Slippery Rock at 1 p.m. this coming Saturday.