ERIE, Pa. – The Kutztown University women's soccer team defeated Gannon by a 2-1 score on Friday afternoon at McConnell Family Stadium, eliminating the previously undefeated Golden Knights in the semifinal round of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Women's Soccer Championship while punching their ticket to Sunday's championship game.

It was an uphill battle for the East Division's third-seeded Golden Bears (11-3-6, 7-3-6 PSAC East), but the squad has been determined to make every game a challenge for their opponent, and an undefeated team would not change their ways. Gannon (14-1-4, 10-0-4 PSAC West) struck early in the second half to open scoring, but a pair of corner kick conversions from Kutztown sent the West Division's top seed out of the conference tournament earlier than expected.

Kutztown's defense slowed down the nation's fifth-best program in the first half, weathering a pair of on-target shots on four attempts as well as four corner tries from a team that tied the Golden Bears with 148 corner kicks on the season, the fifth-highest mark among all Division II schools.

The Golden Knights came out of the break and quickly claimed the advantage, converting on their first corner of the second frame, with Jamie Seneca heading in a Gabby Boden corner in the 51st minute.

The Maroon and Gold struck back on their first corner attempt after the opposing strike, as newly minted Second Team All-Conference midfielder Katelyn Economopoulos (Grantville, Pa./Lower Dauphin) sent the ball to a waiting Skyler Jordan (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth) beside the far post, who delivered a header over a defender to even the score.

Kutztown's Corinne Morgan (Port Republic, N.J./Cedar Creek) turned on the jets to outrun a multitude of Golden Knight defenders and send a strike across the frame and into the right side for the go-ahead goal in the 73rd minute.

It was the stout defense of KU that held the line in the semifinal game, as All-PSAC East defenders Bridget Curtis (Warrington, Pa./Central Bucks South) and Dana Wentz (Leola, Pa./Conestoga Valley) continually put pressure on Gannon's front line that featured a pair of First Team All-PSAC West honorees.

Instead of the typical Gannon dominance they are accustomed to, Kutztown was efficient in their shooting, putting four of their six shots on frame while applying extra pressure on First Team All-PSAC West keeper Morgan Sinan, who made a pair of second half saves in defeat.

Gannon's undefeated record met rookie goalkeeper Cassidy Howes (Havre de Grace, Md./Havre de Grace), who recorded five saves while standing strong against the heavy traffic Gannon ran in the box.

KU advances to their first PSAC Championship game since 2017 and the seventh in program history, and they look to become the PSAC Champions for the first time on Sunday.

The Golden Bears will stay in northwest Pennsylvania to conclude their run at the conference crown on Sunday, Nov. 17, where they will face the winner of the semifinal game between the East's top-seeded Shepherd Rams and the West's third-seeded Slippery Rock in the PSAC Women's Soccer Championship game at Gannon's McConnell Family Stadium at 1 p.m.