KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Four different players found the back of the net and
Maura Day (Huntingdon Valley, Pa./Abington) picked up three assists as the 23rd-ranked Kutztown University women's soccer team opened its home schedule in style with a 4-1 PSAC East victory over Millersville on Wednesday night.
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The Maroon and Gold were humming, outshooting Millersville 18-8 in the game and 14-5 in the first half. KU (3-0, 1-0 PSAC East) showed tremendous execution on corner kicks, turning three of their nine into goals.
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Skyler Jordan (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth) headed in a corner from Day at the 11:59 mark to put the Golden Bears in front early. Less than 10 minutes later, freshman
Emma Gonzalez (Pottstown, Pa./Pottsgrove) poked a loose ball off a corner past Marauder goalie Emma Moss to double Kutztown's lead. Jordan and Day assisted on Gonzalez's first career goal.
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Millersville (0-2-1, 0-1-1 PSAC East) drew within one in the 27th minute when Sara Edwards' long range shot beat KU keeper
Morgan O'Donnell (West Chester, Pa./Bayard Rustin), but that would be all the scoring for the visitors on this night.
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Kutztown held a 2-1 lead at halftime before pulling away with two quick strikes in the second.
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Senior
Charlotte Rauch (Bellport, N.Y./Bellport) deposited a corner from Morgan for her first career goal and points in the 61st minute to extend the Bears' lead to 3-1. Just 94 seconds later, off a free kick from its own side of the field, Morgan buried a shot off the right post and in from just inside the 18 to make it 4-1. Day and
Caroline McDonald (Exton, Pa./Downingtown East) picked up assists.
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The Golden Bears put eight of their 18 shots on frame in the contest and held a 9-8 edge in corners. Day, Jordan and Morgan all led the team with three points. Day's all came on assists, while Jordan and Morgan had a goal and assist each. Morgan registered a game-high six shots.
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O'Donnell stopped three Millersville shots to earn the win in goal, while her counterpart, Moss, made four saves in defeat.
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Earlier Wednesday, the PSAC announced that Mansfield will play a reduced league schedule due to low roster numbers. The Mounties will play each PSAC East school once, but the games will not be designated as league games. Kutztown defeated Mansfield, 5-0, on the road this past Saturday but Wednesday's win over Millersville will officially go down as the Bears' first PSAC East win of the season.
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Additionally, Mansfield will not travel to Kutztown for their previously scheduled game on Saturday, Oct. 18.
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Kutztown continues league play Saturday, Sept. 13, when it heads north to Lock Haven for a 2:30 p.m. start.
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