LOCK HAVEN, Pa. -- The third-ranked Kutztown University women's soccer team put forth a dominant defensive effort and got a late first half goal from Joslyn Stoltz (Levittown, Pa./Calvary Christian Academy) to defeat Lock Haven, 1-0, on the road Wednesday evening and secure the PSAC East regular season title for just the second time in program history.

Kutztown set a new school record with its 14th conference win of the season and is now assured home field advantage throughout the PSAC Championship tournament as far as it advances. The Golden Bears will host a quarterfinal game next Tuesday, Nov. 9, at 6 p.m. against an opponent yet to be determined. The semifinals and championship are slated for Friday, Nov. 12, and Sunday, Nov. 14, respectively.

The Bears (16-1, 14-1 PSAC East) came out with a purpose, fully aware of what was on the line. They controlled possession and kept LHU on the defensive all night. In the opening 45 minutes, KU produced 10 shots, but the game remained scoreless into the final minute of the half. Kayla Argen (Cresco, Pa./Pocono Mountain East), bidding for her 11th goal of the season, hit the left post in the 25th minute.

A week after scoring her first career goal, sophomore Joslyn Stoltz (Levittown, Pa./Calvary Christian Academy) headed a cross from Molly McHarg (Limerick, Pa./Spring-Ford) past Bald Eagle keeper Kylie Auman and into the net at 44:35.

Although Stoltz put away the only goal, the second have proved more of the same with play heavily tilted towards the Golden Bears offensive third of the field, The Bald Eagles (5-11-1, 3-11-1) did not have a shot on goal or in general throughout the entirety of the game. The Maroon and Gold, meanwhile, had 19 total shots, eight of which were on target. 

Auman stood tall in goal for the hosts to keep the score from ballooning out of control. She made six of her seven saves in the second half. Emme Wolfel (Pottstown, Pa./Pottstown) was the beneficiary of Kutztown's all-around dominance, recording her fifth clean sheet of the season without having to make a save.

The Golden Bears' PSAC East regular season title is their first since 2004. The team's 16 wins are just four shy of matching the school record of 20, set by the 2016 team that advanced all the way to the NCAA Division II national semifinals.

Kutztown still has one more regular season game left on its schedule and it comes at West Chester this Saturday. The Golden Rams are the only team to defeat the Golden Bears this season and KU would love nothing more than to avenge the early season loss to their rivals and head into the postseason with continued positive momentum. The game is set for a noon start.