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.
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.
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.
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.
Kutztown held a 2-1 lead at halftime before pulling away with two quick strikes in the second.
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.
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.
O'Donnell stopped three Millersville shots to earn the win in goal, while her counterpart, Moss, made four saves in defeat.
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.
Additionally, Mansfield will not travel to Kutztown for their previously scheduled game on Saturday, Oct. 18.
Kutztown continues league play Saturday, Sept. 13, when it heads north to Lock Haven for a 2:30 p.m. start.
