WEST CHESTER, Pa. – Lightning delayed play just 5:05 into the contest and when the competition resumed, host No. 2 West Chester stormed ahead and never trailed as No. 15 Kutztown suffered its first defeat in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference competition Wednesday afternoon, 16-9, at Vonnie Gros Field.
 
The Golden Bears (7-2 overall, 3-1 PSAC), which had won their first three games in conference by an average of 13 goals, lost for just the second time this season, with the other coming to a nationally-ranked opponent in Tampa. It was also just the second time this season the Maroon and Gold offense did not net in double figure goals.
 
Lailah ElBouazzaoui (Bridgewater, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan) tallied two goals and an assist and Olivia Eilbacher (Cherry Hill, N.J./Camden Catholic) also finished with a three-point game, recording one goal and two assists to lead the attack. Sam Graf (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) netted two goals and each of Emma Meakim (Hatboro, Pa./Upper Moreland), Shannon Lake (Medford, N.Y./Patchogue-Medford), Katie Yocum (Hanover, Pa./South Western) and Lauren Lamorte (West Islip, N.Y./West Islip) found the back of the net once.
 
The defending PSAC champion and national runner-up Golden Rams (9-0, 4-0) scored the game's opening goal with 9:55 left in the first quarter and then the game was halted immediately after due to lightning. Once action resumed, WCU scored 0:49 back to take a 2-0 lead and the teams traded goals the rest of the quarter with West Chester ahead 4-2 after one.
 
Lake, ElBouazzaoui and Graf all scored in the second quarter, but the Golden Rams finished the frame scoring three of the last four to go on top 10-5 at halftime. Kutztown pulled to within as close as four goals, two different times, including 13-9 with 6:34 to play after an Eilbacher tally, but KU could not climb back any more the rest of the way.
 
Jenna Blesson (Sparta, N.J./Lenape Valley Regional) finished with a season-high 15 saves in goal for the Golden Bears. Graf and Robin Spector (Northfield, N.J./Mainland Regional) both collected three ground balls. Cyrose Conteh (Elizabethtown, Pa./Elizabethtown) won a team-best three draw controls and, along with Summer Davis (Beach Haven, N.J./Southern Regional), led the team with two caused turnovers.
 
Kutztown concludes a season-long, three-game road trip this Sunday, April 7, when it takes on Millersville at noon, looking to get back in the win column in conference play.

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