Poll Release
KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Sophomore defender
Kaylee Kupiec (Deptford, N.J./Gloucester Catholic) scored her first goal of the season, and it was an important one, as the second-ranked Kutztown University women's soccer team held on for a 1-0 win over Shippensburg University Tuesday afternoon at Keystone Field in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) matchup.
Kupiec, who originally began her career at KU as a midfielder, has started the last six games at right-back along the defensive front.
So when the ball was kicked out her way outside of the 18-yard box, she didn't think twice about shooting, and let a line-drive strike that flew right past Raiders goalie Delaney Shifflett for the opening goal of the game.
"The ball got hit out to me and I had an open look at a shot, so I took it," said Kupiec. "I used to be an offensive-minded player so I'm used to shooting. So when I got it I thought why not, and went for it. Luckily I got a hold of it and it helped out the team."
Kupiec became the 13th different player to score for the Golden Bears, adding to their PSAC-leading offense, which is tops in the league with 38 goals on the year.
Kutztown (12-0 overall, 10-0 PSAC) had plenty of opportunities at goal, outshooting Shippensburg (3-9-1, 2-9) by a 31-7 total, but could not muster up any other finishes against a bend-but-don't-break Raiders defense.
"Shippensburg came out ready to go and played with a lot of energy from the opening whistle," Kupiec said. "I don't think we were expecting them to come out as well as they did. But we executed our game plan within the first 10 minutes and got the goal that we needed, and then just pushed through and finished out the game with solid defense and possession."
Kupiec, along with
Morgan Staley (Landenberg, Pa./Kennett),
Kristina Miller (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn) and
Anna Hull (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) were once again stout in the back. Sophomore goalie
Jenna Bracken (Wanaque, N.J./Lakeland Regional) made her sixth straight start for the Maroon and Gold. She made one save and won her eighth game on the season, also picking up her fourth shutout.
Kutztown began the day voted second in the latest United Soccer Coaches Division II Week 6 Poll released Tuesday afternoon. The University of Central Missouri was voted first, a week after KU held the top spot. Western Washington, Grand Valley State and Flagler College round out the top-five.
The Golden Bears travel to Mansfield University on Friday, Oct. 13 for a 4 p.m. kickoff as they look to keep the undefeated mark going.
"We're just trying to take it one game at a time," said Kupiec. "Moving forward we just have to worry about what we can control, like executing the game plan and just live in the moment."
