KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The 17th-ranked Kutztown University women's soccer team came in with intentions to get revenge on their Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Championship game loss a season ago, but the Shepherd Rams held momentum from start to finish in a 2-0 win at Keystone Field on Wednesday night.
The Golden Bears (4-1, 2-1 PSAC East) picked up their first loss in a hard-fought battle, one that featured a Rams (2-0-2, 2-0-2 PSAC East) team that played at the top of its game as it enters the thick of conference competition. While the KU defense held strong through most of the first half, the Rams broke through late in the first and added on early in the second frame.
The momentum was in favor of Shepherd the whole night, but Kutztown's stellar defense showed why it has held its first four opponents to three total goals across four games in the season's early goings. Shepherd's pressure continued, and it wasn't until the final ten minutes of the opening frame that the Rams' Josie Beezel broke the scoreless draw.
Shepherd didn't let up in the second frame, tallying six total shots to finish with 11 on the afternoon. Striker Reagan Ackermann hammered one home in the 64th minute to extend the visitors' lead to the final, 2-0 tally.
The Rams and Golden Bears combined for 12 total fouls and three yellow cards on the afternoon, including six first half fouls for Shepherd in the first half. The Rams held the advantage in shots (11-7), shots on goal (5-2) and corners (5-3), while keeper
Morgan O'Donnell (West Chester, Pa./Bayard Rustin) and Kutztown notched one more save, 3-2.
The Golden Bears are back in action at Keystone Field on Saturday, Sept. 20, when they face East Stroudsburg for the Orange Out 4G and Lisa's Army game. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.
