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EAST STROUDSBURG – The first start of the season for freshman Celeste Veenstra was a memorable one for East Stroudsburg University.

Veenstra delivered a pair of goals, including a highlight reel game-winner with 1:27 remaining in regulation, to lift the second-ranked Warriors to a 3-2 comeback victory over No. 7 Kutztown at Whitenight Field on Wednesday.

ESU (10-2, 5-0 PSAC) twice rallied from one-goal deficits to extend its winning streak to six games. The Warriors won despite being held to four shots through the first 55 minutes of the contest by the Golden Bears (9-4, 2-3 PSAC).

"We didn't play our best," head coach Sandy Miller said. "And a lot of that was because of how well Kutztown played, but we found a way to win. Coming out on top today says a lot about the character of this team. We always want to keep fighting until the final whistle."

Senior Kelli Shapiro leveled the score at 2-2 with 13:20 left, tapping-in her fourth goal of the season after fellow senior Bailey Quinn deflected an initial shot into the center of the circle.

Junior Brianna Sassaman kept the game tied on a key defensive save in the final minutes to set up Veenstra's heroics. Receiving the ball at midfield, Veenstra maneuvered around two Kutztown defenders before lofting a shot past goalie Kerri Hanshaw into the left corner of the cage.

Veenstra, who also scored 27:46 into the opening half, now has six goals for ESU over the past six contests.

"She's gotten used to playing with the team lately after not being able to play in our preseason scrimmages," Miller said. "When she has the ball in the circle we're always pretty excited, because she can really make things happen. Her game-winner was a phenomenal goal."

Kutztown's Kyra Wozniak opened up the scoring at the 13:03 mark of the first half, as the Warriors surrendered their first goal in over 363 minutes of game action. ESU's five-game shutout streak matched a stretch in 1995 for the longest in team history.

Veenstra briefly equalized the contest after firing in a pass from senior Paige Harrold, but the Golden Bears went back ahead on a goal by Rose Moore with 1:06 left before halftime.

Junior Maddie Richie made four saves in goal, including two in the second half to keep the visitors off the scoreboard for the remainder of the afternoon. Kutztown was held without a shot in the final 1:27 after Veenstra's go-ahead strike.

ESU won its fifth-straight game over the Golden Bears, with four of the five victories decided by a single goal. The Warriors also improved to 6-2 against nationally-ranked opponents on the year.

ESU concludes a three-game homestand on Saturday, taking on IUP in a 1 p.m. tilt at Whitenight Field.