MANSFIELD,Pa. -- True freshman
Katelyn Economopoulos (Grantville, Pa./Lower Dauphin) netted a brace, including a 87
th-minute penalty kick, to propel No. 5 Kutztown University women's soccer (12-0-5, 11-0-4 PSAC East) to the No. 1 seed in the PSAC East and the regular season championship in a 2-1 victory over Mansfield (3-12-2, 2-11-2 PSAC East) on the road Saturday afternoon. It's the second PSAC East Regular Season Championship for KU in the last three years and only the third one in program history.
Economopoulos started the scoring early for the Golden Bears in the ninth minute, before Taylar Luckenbil equalized for the Mounties in the 25
th minute. The game looked destined for a draw, before Madison Herb took down a Golden Bear in the box, leading to Economopoulos' penalty kick that won the match. The Grantville, Pa. native now sits with seven goals on the season, which is tied for the team lead in goals.
The KU midfield duo of Economopoulos and
Lexy Endres (Medford, N.J./Shawnee) were at the heart of everything for KU. Economopoulos finished with six shots, three of which were on goal, while Endres had eight shots, two of which were on goal.
Joslyn Stoltz (Levittown, Pa./Calvary Christian Academy) and
Caroline McDonald (Exton, Pa./Downingtown East) were the only other Golden Bears to register multiple shots in the game.
The Golden Bears shelled Mansfield almost all game, outshooting the Mounties 22-4, with 8-2 shots on goal advantage. KU also had 13 corner kicks to Mansfield's four.
Cassandra Baker (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) only had to make one save for KU, while Samantha Merklin made six for Mansfield.
The win moves KU to 37 points on the season, and with the tie breaker over West Chester, the Golden Bears secured the No. 1 seed in the PSAC East as the PSAC Tournament will run through Keystone Field. KU's most likely opponent in the first round will be Bloomsburg, who sit in fourth the division.
The Golden Bears wrap up the regular season on Tuesday, Oct. 21 with a home matchup against the Warriors of East Stroudsburg. That match will kick off at 4 p.m.
