smyda battle vs rock
Dave Miller, ADM Photography
Freshman Bethany Smyda now leads the team and the PSAC with 12 goals.

Women's Soccer Matthew Kifer, Sports Information Director

No. 5 Vulcans earn comeback win at ESU, 2-1

• Box Score

EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. (Oct. 10) – Freshman forward Bethany Smyda (Irwin, Pa./Penn-Trafford) scored the game-tying and game-winning goals on Sunday afternoon, as the No. 5 Vulcans rallied from an early deficit to claim a 2-1 win over East Stroudsburg in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) action.

With the victory, the California University of Pennsylvania women's soccer team extends its school-record win streak to 10 games and remains unbeaten with a 12-0-1 overall record. The Vulcans also remain in first place in the league standings with 25 points behind an 8-0-1 mark. Meanwhile, the Warriors drop to 4-7-1 overall with a 3-7-0 record in conference play.

East Stroudsburg took an early 1-0 lead in the 17th minute when junior Megan Keiser scored her second goal of the year off a feed from senior Lindsay Foder. The goal was the first allowed by the Vulcans in a span of over 305 minutes, a streak that snapped over parts of five games. Smyda then evened the game at 1-1 with a goal at the 29:36-mark following a pass from junior Kelsey Fisher (Stony Point, N.Y./North Rockland).

After halftime, Smyda scored her team-leading 12th goal of the season in the 78th minute off a feed from fellow freshman Kamilla Lillefjaere (Akershus, Norway/Wang Elite Sports Academy). Cal U nearly added to its lead in the closing minutes of the game before a shot by junior Sara Di Benedetto (Maple, Ontario/St. Elizabeth Catholic) hit the crossbar.

Junior goalkeeper Paula Jackson (Kingston, Jamaica/Wolmer's Trust) earned the win after making five saves on Sunday. Playing nearly every minute this year, she allowed only her third goal of the season, as her goals-against average (GAA) inched to 0.24. Meanwhile, East Stroudsburg's Nicki Keiser collected six saves in her first career start.

The Vulcans out-shot the Warriors by a 20-9 margin after attempting 10 shots in each period. Cal U also held an 8-3 advantage in corner kicks at Eiler-Martin Stadium.

Cal U continues conference play on Wednesday, Oct. 13, when it travels to face Millersville at 5 p.m. Live stats for the game will be available by clicking here.

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