KUTZTOWN, Pa. -- For the first time since 2017, the Kutztown University women's soccer team (14-0-5, 12-0-4 PSAC East) finds itself in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament Semifinal. The Golden Bears, who earned the No. 1 seed in the East, will face off against No. 2 Gannon (14-3-2, 13-2-1 PSAC West) out of the West, Friday, Nov. 10 at 6 p.m. As the top seed in the East, both semifinals and the championship game will take place at Keystone Field this weekend.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students (K-12). Students from PSAC institutions are free with valid student ID. Children who have not yet reached kindergarten (Pre-K) are also free. PSAC passes will be accepted. Tickets can be purchased online by CLICKING HERE. Friday tickets are good for both semifinal games, while Sunday tickets cover the championship game.
The Golden Bears exorcised plenty of demons in their 2-0 quarterfinal triumph over No. 4 Bloomsburg at Keystone Field Monday night. A beautiful goal from Lexy Endres (Medford, N.J./Shawnee) in the 40th-minute, followed by a set piece strike from Bridget Curtis (Warrington, Pa./Central Bucks South) in the 73rd-minute sunk the Huskies. Entering the game, Bloomsburg was the only PSAC East team that KU had not beaten in 2023, with the two regular-season matchups ending in scoreless draws. The win was also revenge for last's season 2-0 defeat at the hands of the Huskies in the PSAC Quarterfinals. Now that the Golden Bears cleared the first hurdle, a tough matchup against Gannon is next on the list.
The Golden Knights rallied to beat No. 3 Slippery Rock 4-2 Monday night at the McConnell Family Stadium. It was a crazy game, with Rock tying the match 2-2 midway through the second-half, before two goals in two minutes lifted Gannon to the 4-2 win.
It will be a matchup of the unstoppable force against the immovable object Friday night between the Gannon offense, the best in the PSAC, and KU's defense, the best in the PSAC. The Golden Knights have 58 goals this season, with Brooklyn Respecki and Grace Emanuel leading the conference with 12 goals each. Respecki was named the PSAC West Freshman of the Year and will match up against her eastern counterpart, freshman of the year Katelyn Economopoulos (Grantville, Pa./Lower Dauphin). Gannon also boasts five PSAC West first teamers and two second teamers.
The Golden Bears' defense is the best in the PSAC and one of the best in the nation. KU's only allowed seven goals all season, which leads the PSAC and is fifth-best in the nation. Curtis, who scored Monday night, along with Skyler Jordan (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth), Dana Wentz (Lancaster, Pa./Conestoga Valley), Maura Day (Huntington Valley, Pa./Abington), and goalkeeper Cassandra Baker (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) have formed one of the most efficient defensive units in the Atlantic Region. Shutting out Gannon's potent offense led by Respecki and Emmanuel will be the key to the Golden Bear's success Friday night.
KU is 11-1 all-time against the Golden Knights, with the only loss coming in 2015. The last time these teams met was in the Second Round of last year's NCAA Tournament. Endres scored the lone goal via a free kick that sent the Golden Bears to their second-ever Atlantic region final.
The winner of this match will face the winner of No. 1 Mercyhurst and No. 2 West Chester in the other semifinal. That semifinal will take place on Friday at 1 p.m. at Keystone Field.
Mercyhurst is the most all-around team in the conference, led by the attacking threat of Karah Van Horn and Corinne Morgan to go along with goalkeeper Maddie Elbro. The Lakers enter the weekend with a 16-2-1 record and a 14-1-1 mark in conference play. Their only conference loss came against Slippery Rock on Oct. 18.
West Chester is led by PSAC East Athlete of the Year Faith Matter and an experienced roster that won this tournament last season. The Golden Rams come into the weekend with a 12-3-3 record and a 11-3-2 mark in PSAC East play. KU did not play Mercyhurst this season, but matched up against West Chester twice, winning 3-0 and drawing 0-0.
The PSAC Championship match will take place Sunday, Nov. 12 at 1 p.m. at Keystone Field.
