• Box Score

WEST CHESTER, Pa. (Nov. 5) – Sophomore Kayla Fransko (Monongahela, Pa./Ringgold) scored the game-winning goal in the 54th minute on Friday afternoon, as the No. 11 California University of Pennsylvania women's soccer team claimed a 1-0 win against No. 21 Kutztown to advance to the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championship Game.

With the victory, the Vulcans improve to 18-1-1 overall this season and will face
top-seeded and host West Chester for the championship tomorrow, Saturday, Nov. 6, at 11 a.m. The Golden Rams, who have won three of the last four PSAC Championships, advanced to the title game after defeating Slippery Rock via penalty kick. During the regular season, West Chester was the lone team to defeat the Vulcans, winning 1-0 on Oct. 16 at Roadman Park.

The first half against the Golden Bears was a defensive struggle, as the two teams combined for only four shots (three on goal). After halftime, Fransko attempted a corner kick for Vulcans at the 53:32-mark. The kick eventually led to Fransko tallying her fifth goal of the season at the 54:30-mark off an assist from junior Elizabeth Johnston (Munhall, Pa./Steel Valley). The goal marked the first game-winner of the season for the Ringgold product and second of her career.

Kutztown nearly evened the game in the 80th minute when junior Carolynne Kahl took two shots within 15 seconds. The first shot was credited as a “team” save before Kahl hit the post on the deflection. Cal U managed to clear the ball past midfield following the Golden Bears' corner kicks and junior goalkeeper Paula Jackson (Kingston, Jamaica/Wolmer's Trust) preserved the victory and shutout with a save on a shot by sophomore Crystal Zerbe in the 87th minute.

Jackson tied her own single-season school record with her 12th shutout of the year, finishing with four saves in 90 minutes. Kutztown's Casey Behrendt suffered the loss after allowing one goal and making two saves on eight shots.

Cal U, who entered the tournament as the PSAC leader in shots and goals, was out-shot by a 9-8 margin with the eight shots marking a season-low total. The Vulcans managed to hold a 5-4 advantage in corner kicks, including the pivotal corner kick in the 53rd minute.

Over the last two seasons, the Vulcans have now won three of the last four meetings against the Golden Bears with three of the games being decided by scores of 1-0.

Cal U and West Chester have been the top two teams in the NCAA Atlantic Region rankings virtually all season and both will likely receive berths to next week's NCAA Tournament. Live stats of tomorrow's PSAC Championship will be available by clicking here.