WEST CHESTER, Pa. – Lailah ElBouazzaoui's (Bridgewater, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan) stellar four-goal, six-point performance propelled her to second all-time in career goals and third in career points for No. 14 Kutztown, but the Golden Bears fell just short in a hard-fought 14-13 battle against No. 2 West Chester on Wednesday night at Vonnie Gros Field.
ElBouazzaoui's four-goal effort brought her career total to 176, tying her for second all-time in career goals at Kutztown. Her six-point performance elevated her to 214 career points, placing her third in program history. Alongside
Sam Graf (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills), the duo contributed to more than half of Kutztown's offensive output, combining for seven of the team's 13 goals and 12 total points.
The Bears (6-4, 3-2 PSAC East) struck first, with ElBouazzaoui finding the net just 1:14 into the game. Kutztown never trailed in the first quarter, though West Chester (8-0, 4-0 PSAC East) responded quickly, scoring 32 seconds later. The Bears then tallied back-to-back goals, as ElBouazzaoui converted a free-position shot and Graf found the net to extend the lead to 3-1. The teams traded goals over the final 7:55 of the quarter, with Kutztown maintaining a 5-3 advantage heading into the second period.
West Chester came out strong after the break, scoring three unanswered goals to take their first lead of the game at 6-5. The Bears responded at the 7:28 mark when ElBouazzaoui struck again to tie it at 6-6. The back-and-forth battle continued, with
Sammy Ruwet (Swedesboro, N.J./Kingsway Regional) and
Sophie Engelhardt (Hellertown, Pa./Saucon Valley) each adding goals for Kutztown, sending the game into halftime deadlocked at 8-8.
Kutztown regained the lead early in the third quarter as Graf completed her hat trick with a free-position goal, making it 9-8. West Chester quickly answered with two goals of their own, taking a 10-9 lead with 12:09 left in the period. Both defenses tightened for the remainder of the quarter, with goalkeeper
Emma Taylor (Huntingtown, Md./Huntingtown) making six crucial saves. With just 18 seconds remaining, Graf delivered a perfect pass to
Maddie Wagner (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township), who found the back of the net for her second goal of the game, tying the score at 10-10 heading into the final 15 minutes.
West Chester struck first in the fourth quarter, scoring twice to take a 12-10 lead. Kutztown, however, responded with back-to-back goals. Following a key save by Taylor, defender
Avery Hershey (Denver, Pa./Cocalico) initiated a transition play, passing to Engelhardt, who set up ElBouazzaoui for an assist to
Olivia Eilbacher (Cherry Hill, N.J./Camden Catholic), cutting the deficit to one. Less than a minute later, Engelhardt scored her second goal of the game, tying the score once again at 12-12.
With both goalies making key stops, West Chester regained the lead late in the fourth. The Golden Rams held a 13-12 advantage until ElBouazzaoui notched her fourth goal of the night at the 2:01 mark, evening the score at 13-13. However, with just 40 seconds remaining, West Chester earned consecutive free-position opportunities, capitalizing on the second attempt to take a 14-13 lead with only 26 seconds left. ElBouazzaoui secured a game-high seventh draw control on the ensuing possession, but Kutztown was unable to convert in the final moments.
Taylor, a graduate student, finished with a game-high 14 saves and a .609 save percentage. Junior
Marisa Bragg (Ringoes, N.J./Hunterdon Central) contributed three saves, bringing Kutztown's total to 17. Freshman Hershey led the team with seven ground balls, while
Emily Christiansen (Ledgewood, N.J./Roxbury), in her first game back from a hand injury, recorded three ground balls and tied for the team lead with three caused turnovers alongside Graf.
The Golden Bears return home on Saturday, March 29, for their Senior Day matchup against Millersville, with the opening draw set for noon.
Â
