ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – Sam Graf (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) recorded a season-high six goals to reach 200 in her illustrious career, but a late rally by the 12th-ranked Kutztown University women's lacrosse team came up just short in an 11-10 setback at No. 16 Flagler in non-conference action Thursday night.
The Golden Bears (5-1) suffered their first loss and fell to 2-1 against nationally ranked opponents. Graf led the offensive effort by scoring at least four points for the sixth consecutive game, while
Madison Wenner (Marmora, N.J./Ocean City),
Maddie Wagner (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township),
Lailah ElBouazzaoui (Bridgewater, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan), and
Sophie Engelhardt (Hellertown, Pa./Saucon Valley) each added a goal for KU.
Kutztown and Flagler (4-4) proved to be evenly matched and were tied at three after 15 minutes of play. The Saints struck first at the 9:43 mark, but Graf responded just 15 seconds later with her first goal of the night. After Flagler opened a 3-1 lead, Wagner and Graf answered with back-to-back goals in the final 30 seconds of the period.
Flagler pulled ahead in the second quarter, outscoring KU 5-3. The teams exchanged goals to remain locked at five until the Saints capitalized on a three-goal run late in the period. Graf broke the streak with a solo effort to pull KU within 8-6 at the half.
The third quarter was a defensive battle, with only three goals scored. ElBouazzaoui cut the deficit to one with 4:47 remaining, but Kutztown could get no closer than one the rest of the way. Much like the Bears in the second, Flagler responded with two goals 23 seconds apart to take a 10-8 lead into the final frame.
Kutztown controlled much of the fourth quarter, outscoring the Saints 3-1. Flagler struck first at 8:15, but Engelhardt finished a feed from ElBouazzaoui at 7:14, followed by Graf's fifth goal at 6:52. With just 41 seconds remaining, Graf converted on an eight-meter opportunity, marking her 200th career goal and bringing KU within one. Already the program's career leader in goals and points, Graf became the first player in team history and 13th in PSAC history to reach the 200-goal milestone.
Needing possession for a final chance to tie the game, Kutztown looked to the draw circle, where Graf secured a team-high six draw controls and ElBouazzaoui added five. Flagler would win this crucial one, however, and maintained possession to run out the clock.
Defensively, Kutztown picked up 13 ground balls to Flagler's 12, led by
Alexis Plesic (Hanover, Pa./South Western) with three.
Rowan Hall (Sloatsburg, N.Y./Suffern) registered a team-high two caused turnovers, contributing to KU's six total, matching Flagler's six. Goalkeeper
Marisa Bragg (Ringoes, N.J./Hunterdon Central), the reigning PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Week, recorded seven saves in net.
Kutztown remains in Florida for another top 25 matchup against No. 8 Saint Leo on Sunday, March 16, at 11:00 a.m. The Golden Bears will return home to resume PSAC East play against East Stroudsburg on Wednesday, March 19, at Keystone Field.
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