EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. –
Sam Graf (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) scored her first of two goals 2:16 into the second quarter to put Kutztown University on the scoreboard and cut its deficit to 4-1, but fourth-ranked East Stroudsburg University netted four of the next five and did not allow KU to get any closer, winning the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference matchup 14-4 Wednesday afternoon at Whitenight Field.
The Golden Bears (4-4 overall, 1-3 PSAC) concluded a tough stretch away from Keystone Field, finishing up their fourth straight conference road game. The Warriors (8-0, 4-0) won for the eighth consecutive time this season and remain the only undefeated team in the PSAC.
Graf led the KU offense with two goals and added an assist for three points.
Emma Meakim (Hatboro, Pa./Upper Moreland) and
Lailah ElBouazzaoui (Bridgewater, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan) each tallied one goal for the Maroon and Gold.
East Stroudsburg opened the game with back-to-back goals within the first 2:01, but Kutztown's defense held firm the rest of the quarter, trailing 2-0 after one. ESU began the second quarter in similar fashion, finding the back of the net twice within the first 1:01 to go up by four goals. KU broke its deadlock with Graf's 17th goal on the year, second-most on the team. Just when Kutztown found some momentum, the Warriors took it right back, scoring 0:27 later to push their lead up to 5-1. ElBouazzaoui quickly answered 0:45 after, and the KU deficit was back to three, but ESU tallied three consecutive goals to finish out the quarter and go into halftime ahead 8-2. Emily Mitarotonda, who finished with a game-high five goals for East Stroudsburg, netted three in the second quarter to help pace her team.
Kutztown was held scoreless in the third quarter as ESU's offense, second in the PSAC in goals, continued to find the back of the net, scoring four times in the third. Graf and Meakim recorded back-to-back goals to round out the scoring in the contest late in the fourth quarter.
PSAC Defensive Athlete of the Week,
Jenna Blesson (Sparta, N.J./Lenape Valley Regional), finished with 13 saves, while
Fiona Henderson (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks East) came into the game in the fourth quarter and made two saves.
Robin Spector (Northfield, N.J./Mainland Regional) led the Golden Bears with four ground balls, while ElBouazzaoui,
Brooke-Lynn Grim (Abbottstown, Pa./New Oxford) and
Sydnie Bisesi (Denton, Md./North Caroline) each had two. ElBouazzaoui, Meakim and
Cyrose Conteh (Elizabethtown, Pa./Elizabethtown) all won two draw controls.
Kutztown returns home after a four-game road trip to open up conference play. KU hosts another nationally-ranked opponent in defending PSAC champion and eighth-ranked West Chester this Saturday, April 2, at 1 p.m., at Keystone Field.
