KUTZTOWN, Pa.- Caldwell University women's lacrosse senior Arden Kassaleh (Pompton Plains, N.J.) netted seven points as the Cougars fell to Kutztown University 22-12 in their 2020 season opener.
 
The Cougars open their season at 0-1, while the Golden Bears improve to 1-1.
 
The Golden Bears got on the board first with a goal less than two minutes into the game. Caldwell netted three straight goals as freshman Kelsey Maxwell (Center Moriches, N.Y.) netted her first collegiate goal to even the score at 1-1. Kassaleh added two goals to help the Cougars go ahead 3-1 with 25:32 left in the half.
 
The teams traded goals as Maxwell added her second tally of the day, while sophomore Jenna Steelman (Mays Landing, N.J.) tallied three goals to put the Cougars ahead 7-6 with 10 minutes left in the half. Kutztown netted five goals over the final nine points to give the Golden Bears an 11-7 lead at halftime.
 
Kassaleh added two goals early in the second half, while junior Jules Wesler (New Hyde Park, N.Y.) netted her first goal of the season as the Cougars trailed 14-10 midway through the half. The Golden Bears extended their lead to 17-10 but junior Samantha Murphy (Pompton Plains, N.J.) and Kassaleh netted goals to close the gap to 17-12 with 10:35 remaining in the game.
 
The Golden Bears pushed ahead with five goals over the final 10 minutes to hold off the Cougars.
 
Kassaleh led the way with five goals, two assists, three ground balls, two caused turnovers and two draw controls. Steelman added three goals and two assists, while Murphy finished with one goal, two assists, four ground balls, five caused turnovers and eight draw controls. Sophomore Emily Lasko (Jackson, N.J.) totaled two assists.
 
Freshman Ashley Barrett (Oakland, N.J.) recorded 17 saves in her first collegiate action in net.
 
The Cougars travel to the University of Bridgeport on Friday, February 28 for a non-conference game at 12 pm.