GREENSBURG, PA. – Second-ranked West Chester withstood a comeback from No. 12 Kutztown to hang on and escape the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Women's Lacrosse Championship Game with a 12-11 victory at Dick's Sporting Goods Field on the campus of Seton Hill University Sunday afternoon.
West Chester (19-0) won its conference-best 26th PSAC title with the win over Kutztown (15-5), which was vying for its first conference crown in 40 years. The Golden Bears nearly got it too as they held the momentum in the second half.
West Chester jumped out to an 8-2 lead with 6:30 left in the first half fueled by a 4-1 advantage after the first quarter. Back-to-back tallies from
Julia Littlewood (Berwyn, Pa./Conestoga) and goals from
Hannah Stanislawcyzk (Mohnton, Pa./Gov. Mifflin) and
Kendall Fortune (Jarrettsville, Md./North Harford) in the second quarter, finished off a four-goal run that had the defending champs looking like they were in control.
However, Kutztown answered with four straight goals of its own, and then opened up the third quarter with four more that capped a 9-2 run and gave the Golden Bears the lead, 11-10, with 6:48 to play in the game.
Down the stretch,
Grace Frasso (Cinnaminson, N.J./Cinnaminson) and
Kara Stewart (Bowie, Md./Archbishop Spaulding) each caused turnovers that led to a pair of free position attempts for the Golden Rams that they were able to convert on to retake the lead with 47 seconds remaining. Frasso grabbed nine ground balls and caused seven turnovers in the win.
"The whole defense played their hearts out today," WCU head coach
Ginny Martino said. "(
Grace Frasso) was everywhere making things happen. Kara (Stewart) has been stepping up wherever we have needed her lately. She is making big plays."
Amanda Wolfe (Kennett Square, Pa./Unionville) scored on her free position attempt with 2:32 to play to knot the game at 11-all. Stanislawczyk then converted her attempt with 47 seconds left for her third goal of the game and fifth point. She finished with two ground balls and a caused turnover as well. She was named the game's most valuable player for her five-point effort that included the game-winning goal in the final minute.
Kutztown's Sam Graf scored four goals to pace the Golden Bears.
Jessica Gorr (Exton, Pa./Bishop Shanahan) made two saves in goal for the Golden Rams in leading her squad to back-to-back conference titles. Kutztown's Jenna Blesson made nine saves.
West Chester and Kutztown will now wait until 8:30 p.m. tonight to see who and where their next opponents will be when the 2024 NCAA Division II Women's Lacrosse Tournament field is announced on NCAA.com. West Chester is expected to be the top seed in the Atlantic Region and host the four-team regional. Kutztown was the second seed in last week's regional poll.
