WEST CHESTER, Pa.- The 10^th-ranked West Chester University women's soccer team (13-2-1, 11-2-1) renewed its rivalry with fourth-ranked Kutztown (15-1-2, 12-1-1) Wednesday afternoon on Rockwell Field as the Golden Bears and Golden Rams battled for the PSAC East Regular-Season title. Tied atop the PSAC East standings entering the final day of the regular season, West Chester and Kutztown battled throughout the afternoon, but Kutztown freshman Carley Louey's 81st-minute goal made the difference as the Golden Bears escaped Rockwell with a 1-0 win over the Golden Rams.

Today's result makes Kutztown the top seed in the PSAC East heading into the PSAC Tournament, while West Chester will be the second seed from the PSAC East and could host Seton Hill or IUP in the PSAC Quarterfinals on Rockwell Field next Tuesday afternoon beginning at 1 p.m. Ticketing information will be announced as it becomes available from the league office. 

Kutztown applied early pressure, forcing Grace Keen (Lincoln University, Pa./Avon Grove), who had tied the program shutout record in a win over Shippensburg on Senior Day, to make three saves in the first nine minutes of the match, including a pair in the first three minutes. West Chester found its stride as the half went on, holding Kutztown without a shot on goal over the final 36 minutes of the first half, which allowed the Golden Rams to finish the first half with a 14-5 lead in shots, a 5-3 lead in shots on goal, and a 5-0 lead in corners.

West Chester continued to pressure Kutztown in the second half, outshooting the Golden Bears 9-8, including a 4-2 advantage in shots on goal in the final 45 minutes, but it was Louey who made the difference as she slipped around a West Chester defender at midfield and carried the ball to the top of the 18 where she drove a shot past a diving Keen for the 15th goal of her rookie season.

Adriana Ryder (Hamilton, N.J./Steinert) nearly helped West Chester answer back on the counterattack just 15 seconds later with a chance on the post, but Kutztown Morgan O'Donnell made an outstanding stop for her ninth and final save of the afternoon.

West Chester finished the game with a 23-13 lead in shots and a 9-6 lead in shots on goal, along with a 6-1 lead in corners, after winning three corners in a two-minute span early in the first half. Keen made five saves to slow the dangerous Kutztown offense.

Up Next

West Chester will be back in action on Tuesday afternoon for the PSAC Quarterfinals on Rockwell Field against the third seed from the PSAC West (Seton Hill or IUP), beginning at 1 p.m.