Women’s Soccer Falls to Kutztown

Jules Harris
Freshman goalkeeper Jules Harris had 5 saves in her Warrior debut Thursday night.
Photo Credit / Tory Stella

By Austin Mooty
SC Staff Writer

The Warriors women’s soccer played their home opener game on Thursday against Kutztown University at Eiler-Martin Stadium.

This was also Kutztown’s first game of the regular season. East Stroudsburg University won the previous two meetings against Kutztown.

The Warriors battled during the first half, while freshman goalkeeper Jules Harris and the Warriors defense held the Golden Bears to a scoreless half.

Thursday was Jules Harris’ first collegiate game as a Warrior.

The Warriors had a great chance to take the lead in the twentieth minute when senior Courtney Keller’s shot hit the crossbar.

ESU is 4-2-2 in season openers under 8-year head coach Rob Berkowitz, and 69-51-16 overall under Berkowitz since 2007.

“Great effort, great crowd, disappointing result.” said Berkowitz.

Three freshmen started their first career game for the Warriors: Jules Harris, midfielder Sammi Ortiz, and back Amanda Vojta. The Warriors’ other eight starters are all returners from the 2013 team.

The second half for the Warriors had started, and both teams were developing scoring chances and putting together high quality passes.

The Warriors and Golden Bears both sought to take the lead in the second half, but then Kutztown’s Ally Kirkpatrick scored the first goal of the game in the fifty-ninth minute to give Kutztown a 1-0 lead over the Warriors.

The goal came right after a free kick by the Golden Bears. The Warriors were looking to strike back and even the score with 30 minutes left to play.

As time went on, the Warriors offense kept trying their best to tie the game with shot after shot and corner kick after corner kick.

Kutztown outshot the warriors 9-6 and the Warriors beat the Golden Bears in corner kicks 7-5. The Golden Bears defense held on to the 1-0 lead and got their first win of the season.

Email Austin at:
amooty@live.esu.edu