SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University women's soccer team dropped a 2-1 contest to third ranked Kutztown University Tuesday afternoon at James Egli Field.
 
The Rock played its first game of 2017 against a nationally ranked opponent in Kutztown. According to the United Soccer Coaches most recent poll, the Golden Bears are ranked third, while SRU is receiving votes.
 
The loss dropped Slippery Rock's overall record to 3-2-1 and its Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference record to 3-1-1. Kutztown improves to 7-0-0 overall and 5-0-0 in league play.
 
The Golden Bears took an early 1-0 lead at 6:12 when Emily Zwiercan netted her seventh goal of the season after she played a ricochet off a Rock defender and fired it past SRU's goalkeeper, Kylie Downs.
 
Slippery Rock had many chances in the first period to even the score including back-to-back chances by Brooke Testa in the 35th and 41st minutes. Testa sent two high shots into the hands of KU goalkeeper Jenna Bracken.
 
Kutztown however held its 1-0 lead into the break. Slippery Rock did hold the advantage in shots on goal in the first half, 4-1.
 
Fifteen minutes into the second period, the Golden Bears took a 2-0 lead when Morgan Staley shot a header off a corner into the back of the net.
 
At 70:13, SRU made it a one-goal contest when Skye Kramer played a ball to Taylor Gunn that she deposited into the net for a score. It was Gunn's first goal of her Slippery Rock career and Kramer's second assist of 2017.
 
Following the score, KU threatened all the way in to the 80th minute. Madison Mummert fired a shot at SRU goalkeeper Downs, who made a fantastic kick save to keep it a one-goal game. Downs recorded six saves on eight shots faced.
 
Unfortunately, The Rock was unable to muster any more opportunities and fell to KU, 2-1.
 
The loss snapped a modest three-game winning streak for Slippery Rock, its longest streak since Sept. 20 through Oct. 5, 2016, when SRU won five consecutive contests.
 
Up next, The Rock will travel to Lock Haven for a PSAC match 1:30 p.m. Friday afternoon.

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