BRIDEGPORT, CT – The Kutztown University women's lacrosse team came all the way back from down by six goals to eventually take a lead late, but the University of Bridgeport surged for four consecutive goals to finish off a 15-13 victory Saturday afternoon at Knights Field.
 
The Golden Bears (0-1 overall) lost their season-opener for just the first time since the 2014 season.
 
Trailing by its largest deficit of the game, 10-4, at halftime, Kutztown scored eight of the next nine goals to take its first lead of the game, 12-11, with 7:15 remaining. But the Knights (1-0) netted four-in-a-row to stave off KU's furious attempt at a come-from-behind victory to begin the 2020 campaign for both teams.
 
Junior Devon Fitzpatrick (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee) and freshman Cyrose Conteh (Elizabethtown, Pa./Elizabethtown) led the Maroon and Gold offense with three goals each, the first hattricks for both players in their careers. Allie McCormick (West Deptford, N.J./West Deptford) recorded two goals and Destanee Watkins (Emmaus, Pa./Emmaus), Morgan Hurd (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland), Lesley Lane (Jamesburg, N.J./Monroe Township), Cyla Cafferata (Lake Ronkonkoma, N.Y./Sachem North) and Erin Vaughan Ware (Seaford, N.Y./MacArthur) all found the back of the net once for KU. Vaughan Ware also dished out a team-high four assists, while Hurd added two and both Cafferata and Peyton Shima (Red Lion, Pa./Red Lion) contributed one.
 
Bridgeport scored three straight goals to open up the game, and after two Golden Bears goals, the Knights netted seven of the next nine to close out the first half ahead 10-4.
 
Kutztown came out in the second half on fire. Watkins, Vaughan Ware and Conteh found the back of the net in the opening 4:35. Following a Knights goal to make the score 11-7, KU used goals by McCormick (two), Conteh, Hurd and Fitzpatrick in a span of 12:58 to take its first lead of the game at 12-11 with 7:15 left on the clock. But Bridgeport did not want to lose on its home turf and bounced back for four straight goals.
 
In her first collegiate start, freshman goalie Jenna Blesson (Sparta, N.J./Lenape Valley Regional) finished with 13 saves.
 
Kutztown outshot Bridgeport 33-31 overall, but the Knights held a 28-24 advantage in shots on goal.
 
Kutztown will open up its home portion of its schedule on Wednesday, Feb. 26, at 4 p.m., against Caldwell University at Keystone Field.