KUTZTOWN, Pa. -- The seventh-ranked Kutztown University women's soccer team (11-0-4, 10-0-3 PSAC East) was firing on all cylinders Saturday afternoon, netting three goals while extending its shutout streak to seven games in a Senior Day win over Shepherd (4-5-5, 2-5-5 PSAC East) at Keystone Field.
The Golden Bears honored 17 seniors pre-game as a part of their Senior Day ceremony: Sydney Cole (Macungie, Pa./Emmaus), Emme Wolfel (Pottstown, Pa./Pottstown), Lauren Mark (Canton, Mich./Canton), Cassandra Baker (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin), Dana Wentz (Lancaster, Pa./Conestoga Valley), Kylie Sourbeck (Canton, Mich./Canton), Ella Holmes (Whitehall, Pa./Whitehall), Melissa Ulrich (Harrisburg, Pa./Susquehanna Township), Allie Tierney (Galloway, N.J./Absegami), Caroline Thompson (Pottstown, Pa./Owen J. Roberts), Becca Delp (Pottstown, Pa./Pottsgrove), Sadie Goad (Reading, Pa./Schuylkill Valley), Lexy Endres (Medford, N.J./Shawnee), Taylor Rapel (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg), Joslyn Stoltz (Levittown, Pa./Calvary Christian Academy), Isabella Rossetti (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill East), and Rebekah March (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown East).
Despite it being Senior Day, sophomore forward Caroline McDonald (Exton, Pa./Downingtown East) was at the heart of the Golden Bear attack. The Exton native netted her fifth and sixth goals of the season in the first half, before assisting senior Isabella Rossetti (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill East) on her second goal of the season three minutes after halftime. McDonald leads KU with 22 points and her 10 assists on the season led the PSAC and is the third-best mark in the entire country.
McDonald's first goal was assisted by freshman defender Maura Day (Huntington Valley, Pa./Abington). It was the Huntington Valley native's first career assist in the Maroon & Gold. Senior Lexy Endres (Medford, N.J./Shawnee) had the helper on the second goal, which was her second assist of the season.
Overall, both teams had their moments, but KU was more clinical in every facet of the game. The Golden Bears outshot the Rams 14-10, with a 9-4 shots on goal advantage. KU also had 7 corner kicks to Shepherd's one.
The Golden Bear defense continued to do what they do best, registering their seventh straight clean sheet. KU's shutout streak sits at over 11 and a half hours of game action. The last goal it conceded was almost a month ago in a 2-1 win over Shepherd back on Sept. 23. Cassandra Baker (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) started the game in goal for KU, making two saves. Emme Wolfel (Pottstown, Pa./Pottstown) saw some action as well, making two saves in the second half.
The Golden Bears still remain at the top of the PSAC East with 33 points and have the inside track on the No. 1 seed and home tournament game with three regular-season games remaining. KU matches up against a tough Bloomsburg team on the road this Wednesday, Oct. 25 at 6 p.m. The Golden Bears then travel to Mansfield in a week, before wrapping up the regular season at home against East Stroudsburg on Halloween.
