KUTZTOWN, Pa. – After hearing their name called on Monday's NCAA Selection Show, the third-seeded Kutztown University women's soccer team will begin their quest for a title in the first round of the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regionals against the sixth-seeded Charleston Golden Eagles on Friday, Nov. 22 at noon at McConnell Family Stadium in Erie, Pa.
The Golden Bears (11-4-6, 7-3-6 PSAC East) return to Gannon's McConnell Family Stadium after having success against the formerly undefeated Golden Knights in the semifinal round of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Women's Soccer Championship, and they hope to have similar success against the Golden Eagles (16-5-0, 13-2-0 Mountain East South).
The two teams met at Keystone Field in early September, where the then 25th-ranked Golden Bears shutout the then 20th-ranked Golden Eagles behind a five save performance from Cassidy Howes (Havre de Grace, Md./Havre de Grace) in her first career start while picking up goals from Joslyn Stoltz (Levittown, Pa./Calvary Christian Academy) and Bridget Curtis (Warrington, Pa./Central Bucks South) to secure the early season upset.
Like Kutztown, Charleston fell in their conference's title game, as the Mountain East's best regular season team couldn't defend their 2023 conference title against West Virginia State, who claimed the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
The Golden Bears feature six All-PSAC East Division performers, as forward Caroline McDonald (Exton, Pa./Downingtown East), midfielder Taylor Rapel (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg) and defender Bridget Curtis (Warrington, Pa./Central Bucks South) earned First Team honors, while forward Isabella Rossetti (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill East), midfielder Katelyn Economopoulos (Grantville, Pa./Lower Dauphin) and defender Dana Wentz (Leola, Pa./Conestoga Valley) were recognized on the Second Team for their performance this season.
The Atlantic Region bracket is led by top-seeded Shepherd, who has a bye in the first round. No. 2 Gannon and No. 3 Kutztown are followed by Mountain East Champion West Virginia State in the fourth seed. No. 5 Indiana (Pa.), No. 6 Charleston and No. 7 Frostburg State round out the region.
Tickets can be purchased through the site linked above. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students (K-12). Students from PSAC institutions are free with a valid student ID. Children who have not yet reached kindergarten (Pre-K) are also free.
The livestream and stats links can be found above, along with the NCAA tournament central and more information about the tournament's host, Gannon University.
The matchup between Kutztown and Charleston will take place at noon on Friday. The other semifinal game in the pod will see No. 2 Gannon face No. 7 Frostburg State at 3 p.m. The first round winners will compete on Sunday, Nov. 24, at 3 p.m. for the right to compete in the Atlantic Region Championship.
