SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. – Senior midfielder Sam Graf (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) recorded a hat trick and game-high seven points to become Kutztown University's new career leader in goals (178) and points (240) as the 15th-ranked Golden Bears pulled away from Shepherd for a 15-7 PSAC East road victory in their 2025 season opener, Wednesday.
 
Graf entered the new season with a share of the program's points record and just one goal shy of Sarah Gabriele's former record of 176 career goals, which stood since 2018. The Wayne, N.J., native claimed sole possession of the points record and tied the goals record on a free-position tally late in the first quarter to even the score at three.
 
After assisting on Lailah ElBouazzaoui's (Bridgewater, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan) go-ahead goal with 3:08 remaining in the first half, Graf won the ensuing draw control and took it right to the cage for the record-setting tally 12 seconds later. The pair of quick strikes helped the Maroon and Gold build a 7-5 halftime lead.
 
Shepherd (2-1, 1-1 PSAC East) led 4-3 after a quarter and hung tough throughout the first half but Kutztown (1-0, 1-0 PSAC East) seized control by outscoring the Rams 4-1 in the second, third and fourth quarters.
 
Sophomore Lauren Lamorte (West Islip, N.Y./West Islip) scored a career-high five goals on seven shots, while ElBouazzaoui and Graf finished with three goals apiece. Newcomer Sophie Engelhardt (Hellertown, Pa./Saucon Valley), a transfer from Siena, added two goals, while Olivia Eilbacher (Cherry Hill, N.J./Camden Catholic) and Maddie Wagner (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township) also found the back of the net.
 
Kutztown peppered the Rams with shots, holding a lopsided 52-20 advantage. Graf accounted for more than a third of those attempts with a new program single-game record 17. The Golden Bears were a perfect 17-for-17 on clear attempts while holding statistical advantages in ground balls (23-20), draw controls (15-10) and turnovers (22-15).
 
The late second quarter goals from ElBouazzaoui and Graf started a run of six unanswered markers from KU that stretched into the third quarter and left the visitors with an 11-5 lead.
 
In addition to her offensive output, Graf caused a team-high three turnovers moving her into a tie for fifth in program history with 83 in her career. Emily Christiansen (Ledgewood, N.J./Roxbury) and Rowan Hall (Sloatsburg, N.Y./Suffern) forced two turnovers each.
 
ElBouazzaoui topped the team with four draw controls, followed by three each from Brynn Axe (Landisville, Pa./Hempfield), Graf and Madison Wenner (Marmora, N.J./Ocean City).
 
Marisa Bragg (Ringoes, N.J./Hunterdon Central) stopped eight shots from Shepherd shooters to earn the win in goal, while the Rams' Destiny Rockwell was under constant duress in making 20 saves at the other end.
 
Kutztown will make its 2025 home debut Friday afternoon when it hosts No. 17 Bentley at 3 p.m.
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