KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Joslyn Stoltz (Levittown, Pa./Calvary Christian Academy) and Bridget Curtis (Warrington, Pa./Central Bucks South) each had a goal in the first half as No. 25 Kutztown women's soccer picked up a nationally-ranked win over No. 20 Charleston on a rainy Saturday afternoon at Keystone Field.
 
The Golden Bears (2-0 overall) won both of their games in the KU Invitational, also defeating Concord, 4-0, Thursday afternoon. Fellow Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference opponent, Gannon, won its two games over the Mountain Lions and Golden Eagles.
 
It was the first goal of the season for both Stoltz and Curtis. Stoltz, the graduate student midfielder, found the back of the net just 3:42 into the contest as the ball was cleared out to her waiting at the top of the 18-yard box. She took a touch and volleyed a shot that soared over the head of the Charleston goalie for the game's opening goal. It was her first goal since 2021.
 
In the 26th minute, Curtis received a pass from Caroline McDonald (Exton, Pa./Downingtown East) and calmly slotted home her shot to give her team a two-goal cushion. As a defender, that's exactly what she would have hoped for. And the Maroon and Gold defense did indeed hold firm, earning their second straight shutout as freshman goalie Cassidy Howes (Havre de Grace, Md./Havre de Grace) made her first career start in net and finished with five saves for the victory.
 
Kutztown outshot the Golden Eagles 16-9, but only 7-6 in shots on goal. There were 19 combined corner kicks between the two teams with KU holding an 11-8 edge.
 
Kutztown will now get into conference competition with its next game, next Wednesday, Sept. 11, at 7 p.m., at Millersville.

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