KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Under the electric Friday night lights, the No. 2 ranked Kutztown Golden Bears stormed the field, unleashing a telling 6-0 victory over Frostburg State, clinching their 10th win of the season. With four different goal scorers and stifling defense, the Bears demonstrated why they are one of the top-ranked teams in the country.
The Golden Bears came out strong, with sophomore
Jessica Traynor (Pennsburg, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) opening the scoring just 80 seconds into the game. Traynor's remarkable reverse lift into the cage, assisted by
Sarah Gatehouse (Sinking Spring, Pa./Wilson), set the tone for what would be a fast-paced and high-energy contest.
The offense continued to surge, and less than seven minutes later, graduate student
Mia Simpson (Wildwood, Mo./Lafayette) notched her sixth goal of the season at 7:44 into the first quarter.
Juliana Donato (Cedarville, N.J./Schalick) delivered the assist, marking a significant milestone as she reached 50 career points, further solidifying Kutztown's early lead.
The Golden Bears weren't done yet, as Gatehouse hammered home an unstoppable shot off a corner attempt, assisted by Grace Harold, bringing the score to 3-0 by the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter saw substantial midfield action, but Frostburg State struggled to break through Kutztown's defense. The Bobcats' only shot of the game came from a corner opportunity, but goalie
Mia Kepler (Wall Township, N.J./Wall) was ready, making a crucial save to preserve the shutout heading into halftime.
Entering the third quarter,
Lorelai Lehenky (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville) took over in goal, stepping in for Kepler. The scoring continued with
Erin Gonzalez (East Earl, Pa./Garden Spot) wasting no time, weaving around defenders to net a goal 4:44 into the third quarter. Gonzalez's impressive night continued into the fourth quarter, where she struck again just over two minutes in. Her second goal of the game marked her ninth of the season, placing her among the top five in goals scored in the PSAC.
The Golden Bears' relentless offense delivered a final blow late in the fourth quarter off another corner attempt. Gonzalez inserted the ball, which was executed flawlessly between Gatehouse and Harold before Gatehouse capped off the play with her second goal of the night, a remarkable achievement that propelled her career points to over 50 and secured her a three-point game.
Kutztown's defense remained impenetrable, with the combined efforts of Kepler, Lehenky, and
Alaina Telenko (Elizabethtown, Pa./Elizabethtown) in goal ensuring a fifth shutout of the season. Every non-injured, rostered and present Kutztown player saw game time, further emphasizing the team's depth and cohesive spirit.
The Golden Bears now set their sights on a highly anticipated battle at #1 ranked Shippensburg on Tuesday, October 15, at 4:00 PM.
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