ERIE, Pa. -- The No. 7 Kutztown University women's soccer team downed No. 3 Gannon 1-0 in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament Sunday afternoon, sending the Golden Bears to the program's second-ever Atlantic region final.
It was a moment of magic from junior midfielder Lexy Endres (Medford, N.J./Shawnee) that was the difference in the match. Endres stepped up to a free-kick from about 19 yards out and ripped it into the upper left-hand corner, leaving the Golden Knight's goalkeeper motionless as KU took the 1-0 lead and ran with it. It was the Temple transfer's fourth goal of the campaign.
The match was full of dramatic moments for both sides. A foul in the box by Gannon's Emilie Hilliard resulted in a red card and a penalty for KU in the 58th minute, but Kennedy Solymosi saved the penalty. Both squads had chances in the match, but Emme Wolfel (Pottstown, Pa./Pottstown) stood tall in goal for KU, making five saves in the second half and six all game.
Endres registered two shots on goal in the match, while Kylee MacLeod (Pottstown, Pa./Owen J. Roberts), Sadie Goad (Reading, Pa./Schuylkill Valley), and Isabella Rossetti (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill East) all registered one shot on goal each. The teams were even in most offensive categories, both have ten shots with Gannon having a slim 6-5 shots on goal advantage. The Golden Knights play a physical contest, getting called for 14 fouls compared to KU's four. Jamie Seneca received a yellow card for Gannon while Caroline McDonald (Exton, Pa./Downingtown East) did the same for KU.
After an up-and-down regular season and a quaterfinal exit in the PSAC Tournament, Erik Burstein's Golden Bears have caught fire at the right time, downing the second and third-seeded teams in the Atlantic region. KU is the lowest-seeded team remaining in the tournament field. The Golden Bears have made the program's second Atlantic Regional final ever, with the only other time coming in 2016 when KU made the Final Four.
The Golden Bears will now have to face their toughest test yet, traveling to PSAC rival No. 1 West Chester with a chance to advance to the Elite Eight. The Golden Rams won the PSAC and defeated KU twice in the regular season. The Golden Bears will also have revenge on their mind after West Chester eliminated KU in the Second Round of last year's NCAA Tournament at Keystone Field in penalties.
The time and date of the Atlantic regional final has yet to be announced.
