KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The Kutztown University women's soccer team snapped a four-game winless streak with a dominant 3-1 victory over West Chester in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East Division battle under the Wednesday night lights at Keystone Field.
While West Chester didn't make it easy to take control, the Golden Bears (5-1-3 overall, 3-1-3 PSAC East) gained small advantages and didn't let off the brake, netting three unanswered goals to put away the Golden Rams (4-3 overall, 3-3 PSAC East).
The Golden Rams got things going early, with an 11th-minute goal by Victoria Pungello off an assist from reigning PSAC East Women's Soccer Athlete of the Year Faith Matter. From there, however, West Chester came close on the attack, but things seemed to turn quickly in Kutztown's favor.
The Maroon and Gold evened the score with a Chelsea Ritter (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) strike in the 18th minute, evening the score for halftime in what looked to be a tight battle.
Kutztown opened the second half with a quick deciding goal from sophomore Corinne Morgan (Port Republic, N.J./Cedar Creek), her fifth of the season and second in as many games. Graduate defender Dana Wentz (Lancaster, Pa./Conestoga Valley) didn't feel like two was enough, but her kick from outside the box rainbowed over West Chester's Grace Keen to provide an extra cushion for the Golden Bears, more than enough to drop West Chester on a hazy night under the lights.
Sophomore Morgan O'Donnell (West Chester, Pa./Bayard Rustin) and freshman Cassidy Howes (Havre de Grace, Md./Havre de Grace) each played a half in the goal for KU, with the Maryland native holding strong after an injury scare sent her to the pitch on a save in the second half of the game.
The Kutztown defense managed to hold a stingy Golden Rams offense at bay despite aggressive attacks led by Matter. The defense, led by Wentz and senior defender Bridget Curtis (Warrington, Pa./Central Bucks South), made the junior forward and her attacking crew feel uncomfortable all night.
Kutztown hits the road for their next two matches, traveling to Mansfield (Oct. 5 at 7 p.m.) before facing Lock Haven (Oct. 12 at noon) in the middle of PSAC East competition. The Golden Bears return to Keystone Field against Millersville for another primetime Wednesday showdown at 7 p.m.
