KUTZTOWN, Pa. –
Jessica Traynor (Pennsburg, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) received a pass from
Erin Gonzalez (East Earl, Pa./Garden Spot) in front of the cage and ripped home the opening goal just 0:45 in and third-ranked Kutztown Field Hockey defeated seventh-ranked West Chester 2-1 Tuesday night in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference matchup inside Andre Reed Stadium.
The Golden Bears (11-2 overall, 5-2 PSAC) have now won two games in-a-row and defeated their third ranked opponent, all in October, taking down No. 9 Bloomsburg and No. 7 Mansfield earlier this month. It's the first victory over the Golden Rams (8-6, 3-4) since the 2019 season and first at home for KU since 2018.
Gonzalez, who was a terror down the sideline all night, raced down field dribbling the ball and then sent in a cross that was met by the stick of Traynor, who neatly slotted in her shot for the game's first goal, the quickest goal scored this season for the Maroon and Gold. It was the second goal in as many games for the freshman Traynor, who now has four goals on the year.
Megan Doyle (Hackettstown, N.J./Hackettstown) added an insurance goal, her third of the season, 8:29 into the third quarter off an assist by
Juliana Donato (Cedarville, N.J./Schalick). It was the ninth assist on the season for Donato, which ranks third in the conference.
Mia Kepler (Wall Township, N.J./Wall) finished with a season-high seven saves in cage. She came up big all evening to keep her team in front.
West Chester, however, pulled to within just one goal as Jasmine Miller scored her team-high 16th goal of the season on an assist by Cameron Smith with just 6:10 to play. But Kepler and the KU defense held firm the rest of the way to secure the win.
The numbers were nearly identical, but Kutztown held a slight edge in shots (13-12) and shots on goal (9-8), but the teams were even in penalty corners (7-7).
Kutztown will play two games in two days this weekend to conclude its home portion of the regular season schedule. KU will host Lander in a non-conference game this Friday, Oct. 20, at 3 p.m., followed by a PSAC contest with Slippery Rock the next day at 3 p.m. Saturday will also be senior day where head coach
Marci Scheuing and her staff will recognize 10 seniors.
