KUTZTOWN, Pa. -- Third-ranked Kutztown took a big step forward in its quest for the PSAC Eastern Division regular season title, Wednesday night.

The Golden Bears got second-half goals from Rebekah March (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown East) in the 57th minute and Joslyn Stoltz (Levittown, Pa./Calvary Christian Academy) in the 85th --the first of each player's career-- to withstand a valiant effort from Bloomsburg, 2-1, at Keystone Field.

Despite a stellar season to date, Kutztown entered Wednesday's tilt just two points up on the Huskies and idle West Chester in the Eastern Division standings.The game would live up to its anticipated billing with the two sides trading goals less than 13 minutes apart, before Stoltz provided the heroics late.

Bloomsburg (11-4-1, 10-3-1 PSAC East) carried a bit more of the play in the opening half, recording six shots to KU's two and earning three corners. Still, the Huskies weren't particularly dangerous in their attack, putting two shots on frame that Golden Bear keeper Emme Wolfel (Pottstown, Pa./Pottstown) had no issues with.

Nearing the 12-minute mark of the second half, Bloomsburg keeper Alexa Ryan drilled a clearing attempt off the back of her unassuming defender Kylie Schwab and March was in the right place to capitalize for the Bears. The sophomore collected the loose ball and lofted a shot from 20 yards out that skimmed the right post and went in for a 1-0 lead.

The Huskies equalized in the 70th minute when Natalie Holmes' corner pinballed off teammate Kennedy Kilchrist in the box right to Brooke Foster at the right side of the six and she slid it into the low right corner.

Overtime seemed imminent, but Stoltz changed that with 5:41 to play. Brittany Arentz (Mount Wolf, Pa./Northeastern) won a 50-50 ball and quickly moved it to Stoltz. The sophomore from Levittown took two touches and ripped a perfect shot just over the outstretched hand of Ryan and under the crossbar for the go-ahead goal.

Kutztown locked it down from there, earning its ninth win over the Huskies in their last 13 meetings (9-2-2).

Bloomsburg ended the night with a 13-4 shot advantage, but many of those attempts were off target or blocked. It was only a 3-2 Husky advantage in shots on goal, but both of KU's found the back of the net.

The Golden Bears (14-1, 12-1 PSAC East) remain at home to wrap up the week. They'll host Mansfield for Senior Day this coming Saturday at 1 p.m.