Women's soccer ready to hit the field for the 2023 season

KUTZTOWN, Pa. -- After a magical run to the Sweet Sixteen of the 2022 NCAA Tournament, the Kutztown University women's soccer team is ready to take the field for the 2023 campaign.

The Golden Bears ended last season, and open this season, ranked No. 19 in the United Soccer Coaches Association DII national poll. KU finished the 2022 season with an 11-6-4 record, making it the 20th straight season the Golden Bears won ten or more games. Despite an up-and-down season, including an early exit from the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament, the Maroon and Gold earned the final seed in the Atlantic Region of the NCAA Tournament.

Once tournament time came around, the Golden Bears found their groove. KU downed No. 2 Frostburg State and No. 3 Gannon en route to the program's second-ever Atlantic Region final against No. 1 West Chester. The Golden Bears went toe-to-toe with the Golden Rams in Albany, but a last minute goal saw the eventual national runners-up West Chester advance.

The excitement from the end of last season has carried over into 2023, with the Golden Bears being ranked No. 3 in the PSAC East preseason poll. 16th-year head coach Erik Burstein returns the bulk of last year's roster, including All-PSAC performers Isabella Rossetti (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill East), Bridget Curtis (Warrington, Pa./Central Bucks South), and Caroline McDonald (Exton, Pa./Downingtown East).

Rossetti finished second on KU with seven goals last season and will be tasked with carrying the goal scoring load this season. Curtis helped anchor a Golden Bear backline that finished third in the PSAC East in goals against (16). One of the questions for KU is who will replace the now graduated Kylee MacLeod (Pottstown, Pa./Owen J. Roberts), who started most of the season alongside Curtis. McDonald scored three goals in the first five games last season as a true freshman and will look to step into a bigger role in the Golden Bear attack.

The biggest question for Berstein and Golden Bears will be how they replace the 2022-23 KU Female Athlete of the Year Kayla Argen (Cresco, Pa./Pocono Mountain East). Argen was named a PSAC First Teamer and a United Soccer Coaches Third Team All-American, to go along with a plethora of other awards last season. She led KU in goals (8), assists (10), and points (26).

Despite the losses of key pieces, the Golden Bears have experience to help fill the gaps, with 20 upperclassmen on the roster. Lexy Endres (Medford, N.J./Shawnee) played a key role in last year's midfield, finishing the season third on KU in both goals (3) and assists (3). KU also welcomed seven freshmen this season, along with two transfers. Defender Lauren Mark (Canton, Mich./Canton) joins the Golden Bears after two years at Missouri Southern State, while graduate student Caroline Thompson (Pottstown, Pa./Owen J. Roberts) joins after 40 career games at Division I Drexel.

The Golden Bears open the season tomorrow, Thursday Aug. 31 at the Gannon Invitational. KU will match up against Charleston (W. Va.) at 3 pm. The Maroon and Gold will then play Concord on Saturday, Sept. 2 at 3 p.m. as a part of the invitational.

The PSAC East slate will start at Keystone Field against Millersville on Wednesday, Sept. 6 at 7 p.m. Senior Day is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 21 against Shepherd at noon.

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Players Mentioned

#8 Kayla Argen: M; 5' 3"; Graduate Student

#15 Kylee MacLeod: D; 5' 7"; Senior

#25 Bridget Curtis: D; 5' 5"; Junior

#14 Lexy Endres: M; 5' 6"; Senior

#11 Caroline McDonald: F; 5' 6"; Sophomore

#18 Isabella Rossetti: M/F; 5' 4"; Senior

#2 Caroline Thompson: F/M; 5' 5"; Graduate Student

#8 Lauren Mark: D; 5' 5"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#8 Kayla Argen
: 5' 3"; Graduate Student
: M

#15 Kylee MacLeod
: 5' 7"; Senior
: D

#25 Bridget Curtis
: 5' 5"; Junior
: D

#14 Lexy Endres
: 5' 6"; Senior
: M

#11 Caroline McDonald
: 5' 6"; Sophomore
: F

#18 Isabella Rossetti
: 5' 4"; Senior
: M/F

#2 Caroline Thompson
: 5' 5"; Graduate Student
: F/M

#8 Lauren Mark
: 5' 5"; Junior
: D