Slippery Rock, Pa.----The fourth-seeded and 13th-ranked Kutztown University Bears prevailed 16-13 over fifth-seeded and 16th-ranked Wingate University in the opening round of the NCAA Division II women's lacrosse Atlantic Regional tournament Thursday afternoon. The Bears improve to 15-6 overall, while the Bulldogs end their season at 16-4. The 2026 season saw the 'Dogs capture their fifth straight regular season SAC title, adding their second SAC tourney championship.
KEY STATS
- Wingate out-shot Kutztown 30-24
- The Bears held a 20-16 edge in shots on goal
- The Bulldogs won 15 of the 22 draw controls
- The 'Dogs held a 23-20 edge in ground balls
- Kutztown was 19-for-22 on clears; Wingate went 14-for-17
- The Bulldogs had 23 turnovers compared to KU's 20
KEY BULLDOGS
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Deirdre Jones had two goals and a caused turnover to lead the WU attack
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Lauryn Knutson and
Stacy Glover each added two goals and a ground ball
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Madison Slayton contributed a goal, an assist, three draw controls and two ground balls
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Bree Solero added a goal, two CTs and three ground balls
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Amelia Benner and
Julia Garvin each handed out an assist, with Garvin adding two CTs
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Kathryn McCabe piled up nine draw controls, adding two ground balls and a CT
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Sophie Pavlick added three draw controls
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Haley McCourt led the Bulldogs with three CTs, adding three ground balls
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Ema Ulinder added two CTs and three ground balls
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Krysta Churns added a CT and a pair of ground balls
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Saskia Aunger registered eight saves on the day
FIRST QUARTER
- Jones started the scoring just over three minutes in to give the 'Dogs the lead
- Maddie Wagner tied it with nine minutes left
- Glover's goal at the 4:54 mark put Wingate back on top 2-1
- Alexis Plesic and Isabella Montouri scored in the final 3:30 to give the Bears a 3-2 lead
SECOND QUARTER
- Kutztown scored the first four goals of the second to take a 7-2 advantage
- Four different Bears scored, with a Katie Yocum goal at with 9:47 left capping the 6-0 spurt
- Knutson scored off Slayton's assist at the 8:28 mark to pull the 'Dogs back within four
- Solero's goal a minute later made it a three-goal game
- Plesic's goal in the final minute gave the Bears an 8-4 halftime advantage
THIRD QUARTER
- The first 10 minutes of the second half were scoreless
- Wagner and Lauren LaMorte then scored in a 19-second span to give KU a 10-4 lead
- Slayton answered with a goal at the 2:42 mark
- Wagner's goal with 13 seconds remaining gave the Bears an 11-5 advantage
FOURTH QUARTER
- Glover started the scoring in the final frame just over five minutes in off a Benner assist
- Wagner answered with 8:36 remaining to make it 12-6
- Jones scored two minutes later to cut the lead to five
- Knutson's goal off Garvin's assist with 1:36 to go made the final margin 12-8
