KUTZTOWN, Pa. -- One of the last teams competing prior to the COVID-19 pandemic early last year, Kutztown University women's lacrosse made its long-awaited return to the field Wednesday afternoon at Keystone Field.

The Golden Bears' matchup with Shepherd had everything. Momentum swings, tons of action and a thrilling finish. Unfortunately for the hosts, a goal by Shanna Dextradeur off a broken play with less than five seconds remaining gave the visiting Rams a 15-14 PSAC East victory.

In an evenly played game throughout, Kutztown (0-1, 0-1 PSAC East) held a slight upper hand most of the way. The Bears twice led by three goals, but following a five-goal second-half run by Shepherd, they were forced to stage a three-goal rally to tie the game at 14 on Allie McCormick's (West Deptford, N.J./West Deptford) fourth goal of the game with 2:12 remaining in regulation.

Devon Fitzpatrick (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee) won the ensuing draw control for KU, which drew a free-position attempt just over a minute later. Ram goalie Hailey Bennett denied Morgan Hurd's (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland) go-ahead try, however and Shepherd took it the other way.

With nine seconds left, Sidney Kelly was awarded a free-position, putting Shepherd in position for the victory. Kelly's attempt did not come out of the pocket pure as she darted to goal and it bounced to the right edge of the crease where Dextradeur picked it up and put it in with 3.9 seconds remaining for the winning tally.

McCormick's four goals, five points and seven shots were all team-bests. Hurd finished with a hat trick and four points, Erin Vaughan Ware (Seaford, N.Y./MacArthur) (2 goals, assist) and Cyla Cafferata (Lake Ronkonkoma, N.Y./Sachem North) (goal, 2 assists) had three-point afternoons, while freshmen Alexis Sigillo (Valley Cottage, N.Y./Nyack) (two goals), Emma Meakim (Hatboro, Pa./Upper Moreland) and Robin Spector (Northfield, N.J./Mainland Regional) all scored their first collegiate goals in their debuts.

Fitzpatrick's game-high nine draw controls also marked the third most in a game in team history. Kaily Crystle (Springfield, Pa./Springfield) forced a team-high three turnovers.

Shepherd (1-0, 1-0 PSAC East), which got a balanced effort behind seven multi-point performances, outshot the Maroon and Gold 30-27 and won the ground ball battle 20-15. Kutztown held a 19-12 edge in draw controls.

Kira Barth and Katherine Campbell each had hat tricks to lead the Rams' offense. Barth was 2-for-2 on free-position attempts, while Campbell registered a perfect shooting percentage on her three shots.

Jenna Blesson (Sparta, N.J./Lenape Valley Regional) started in goal for Kutztown and stopped seven shots in 49:56. Courtney Gallagher (Montrose, N.Y./Hendrick Hudson) played the final 10:04, taking the tough-luck loss on Dextradeur's goal. At the opposite end of the field, Bennett was credited with five saves for Shepherd.

Kutztown will be back at home against non-conference opponent Georgian Court on Saturday at 1 p.m. Prior to the game the Golden Bears will honor their senior class.