KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Millersville got off to an early lead and held it throughout the entire first half, but a swing of momentum in the second half led to four lead changes. Kutztown ultimately came out ahead and secured the victory by a single point, 12-11.
 
Millersville falls to 1-4 on the season and 1-3 in PSAC play. Kutztown ends it losing streak and improves to 1-3 overall and 1-2 in conference play.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Kutztown got on the board early off a free position shot from Cyrose Conteh just 46 seconds into the game. Genevieve Speights quickly tied it up for the Marauders with an unassisted goal. Gillian Zimmerman changed the momentum of the game scooping up a ground ball off a save for the goal and put Millersville in the lead 2-1. After three unanswered goals from the Marauders, Kutztown finally tried to stop the bleeding with three unanswered goals of its own to come within a single point of the lead, 5-4, with 12 minutes remaining in the first half. The teams continued to trade goals with back-to-back goals from Sara Burney putting the Marauders back up by three, but two goals from Kutztown in the last 15 seconds of play put the Golden Bears back within a single point of the lead, 8-7, to end the first half.
• Kutztown took an early lead, 9-8, in the second half with back-to-back goals in the first three minutes. Kya Effinger stepped up for the Marauders to tie the game back up with her first career goal at the 21:16 mark. The Golden Bears tried to pull ahead again, but two consecutive goals from Burney put the Marauders back in the lead, 11-10, with 14:43 left on the clock. After a scoreless six minutes Kutztown found the back of the net to tie it up once again, 11-11. With five minutes remaining, the Golden Bears capitalized on a Millersville foul to regain the lead and secure the 12-11 victory.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Millersville held the advantage in shots (28-22), free position shots (7-5), ground balls (26-20), draw controls (13-11), and caused turnovers (13-8).
• Burney led the scoring effort for Millersville with five goals and two assists for seven points. Speights and Zimmerman added two goals apiece while Effinger and Lasak had one each.
• Calie Swegon tied Burney in assists with two.
• Taiyana Goldsborough scooped up a team-high seven ground balls for the Marauders and Zimmerman caused a team-high four turnovers.
• MaryCait Dorley and Speights each had four draw controls.
• Kaleigh Sasdelli saved made five saves on 22 shots faced.

THOUGHTS FROM HEAD COACH CINDY WILSON

• "Our defense really wanted to and worked to shut down anything that Kutztown set up offensively."
• "Kaleigh [Sasdelli] works hard to utilize her abilities in cage and her teammates continue to work hard to protect her."
• "[Sara] Burney is a very smart player and a great leader. She stepped up today, took control, and continues to be an important part of our offense."

UP NEXT

• The Marauders return home on Wednesday, March 31 to face Bloomsburg on Chryst Field at Biemesderfer Stadium at 4 p.m.