KUTZTOWN, Pa.- Alyson Cutter (Warrington, Pa./C.B. South) converted a loose ball in the box off a corner with just over 24 minutes to play in regulation to lift the third-seeded West Chester University women's soccer team (16-3-3) to a 1-0 victory over second-seeded Kutztown (15-2-5) on Keystone Field on Sunday afternoon.

"This is just a special victory," opened head coach Betty Ann Kempf Townsley. "We've had so much adversity and so many injuries all year, so to battle through is a testament to this group. We aren't the same team as last year, but this team has worked so hard and done so much to return to this place. Earlier today, I called them warriors because they have persevered through everything, worked so hard, and wanted it so much; I just love this team's spirit and work ethic and the way they fight for each other on the field."

Cutter's goal, which is her fourth career postseason game-winner after scoring three a year ago, including the winner in the National Quarterfinals vs Franklin Pierce, came at the perfect time for the Golden Rams as it was a culmination of solid pressure on Kutztown throughout much of the afternoon. West Chester scored this goal off a corner as Victoria Pungello (Jackson, N.J./Jackson Memorial) sent the ball arcing into the box, finding Kaitlynn Haughey (Philadelphia, Pa./Penn Charter) who was able to bring the ball down into a maze of Golden Ram and Golden Bear players. Cutter was able to get the ball to her feet and did not miss the chance, burying it past a diving Cassandra Baker to give the Golden Rams a decisive 1-0 lead.

"We certainly felt like we had unfinished business to take care of," opened Cutter. When asked about her game-winner, Cutter said, "I think it came down to being in the right place at the time, and then we did a great job holding them down as a team until time ran out."

This victory marks the third year in a row in which West Chester has ended Kutztown's season in the NCAA Tournament, advancing past the Golden Bears in the second round on PKs in 2021 before defeating Kutztown in the Atlantic Regional Final in Albany a season ago. West Chester also returns to the Atlantic Regional final for the sixth time in seven years, searching for its seventh Atlantic Regional crown under the tutelage of head coach Betty Ann Kempf Townsley. 

With this victory, combined with an upset-win by Gannon over Charleston (W.V.) on the other side of the bracket, West Chester will have the opportunity to host the Atlantic Regional Final and National Quarterfinals during the first weekend in December. West Chester will host these two rounds on South Campus for the first time since the 2016 season. 

West Chester withstood pressure from the highly-touted Kutztown offense throughout the afternoon, managing a number of early opportunities from the Golden Bears, including a chance that the team cleared off the line in the 43^rd minute, which was perhaps the hosts best scoring chance of the first half.

"You could probably say we handled the surge," acknowledged head coach Betty Ann Kempf Townsley when asked about the early Golden Bear pressure. "We did a great job of staying organized in the back, didn't commit any stupid fouls, and really did a good job of keeping our heads under pressure."

At the intermission, Kutztown and West Chester were tied in shots with three each while also tied in corners at 1-1, heading into the second half.

Kutztown applied early pressure to begin the second half once again, but Grace Keen (Lincoln University, Pa./Avon Grove) made a pair of saves in the first 10 minutes of the frame to keep things scoreless early.

After surviving the early pressure once again, West Chester began moving its way back downfield, winning a free kick just outside the box in the 64^th minute to apply more pressure to the Golden Bears. Kiley Kergides (Rydal, Pa./Germantown Academy), who scored from nearly an identical spot in the Atlantic Region Championship game a year ago, nearly duplicated her effort, but her shot was blocked to nullify that chance. West Chester won a corner a few minutes later, which led to Cutter's game-winning goal as the Golden Rams swarmed the junior in celebration.

With a one-goal lead in the late stages of regulation, West Chester was far from out of the woods as Kutztown continued to apply pressure, getting a tremendous chance in the 75^th minute when the Golden Bears Lexy Endres took a shot toward the upper right corner of the goal, but Keen was there once again, making a leaping save to keep the hosts off the scoreboard. Keen made one more save in the 80^th minute on what proved to be the final shot on goal of the game for Kutztown, holding off the Golden Bear attack for the final 10 minutes to seal the 1-0 victory.

"It was a lot of work," acknowledged Carley Slavin (Abington, Pa./Abington) when asked about the backline's effort in the victory today. "I think we did a great job of communicating and passing off to each other throughout the afternoon, and that was key for us in the win."

Keen, who started her NCAA Tournament career with a six-save shutout victory over Frostburg State, was equally as impressive on Sunday, finishing the match with four outstanding saves to halt the Golden Bear offense.

"A really hard-fought victory today," said Keen when asked about her second consecutive shutout to begin her NCAA Tournament career. "Kutztown fought really hard throughout the afternoon, but our backline did a great job of playing balls out of dangerous areas and holding on for the victory."

Up Next:

West Chester will face Gannon in the Atlantic Regional Championship game on Rockwell Field on Friday, December 1.