KUTZTOWN, Pa. (Oct. 20, 2009) - The Kutztown University field hockey team kept its playoff push alive with a 3-1 win over visiting Millersville in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Division contest on Tuesday night. 

The Golden Bears (12-6, 4-3 PSAC East) control their own destiny, with a win on Saturday at C.W. Post they will have clinched the second seed and final playoff spot in the Eastern Division.

Anne Waapu (Hastings, NEW ZEALAND/) (Hastings, NEW ZEALAND) wasted no time getting the Golden Bears are the board. As she has done all season, Waapu handled an insert by Abbey Sheeler (Fleetwood, PA/Brandywine Heights)(Fleetwood/Brandywine Heights) on a penalty corner and smacked it past the keeper with great force.

"It was very important we get an early goal," said Waapu. "We have struggled a bit this season with scoring early in games, so the quick start was a game plan that we had heading in."

Millersville got a goal from Kristie Testa to head into the intermission even with KU at 1-1.

After solid defense by both teams led to back-and-forth play, Courtney Zook (Oley, PA/Olley Valley) (Oley/Oley Valley) fired a shot that was inches from a goal and smacked off of the post. Fortunately for the Golden Bears, Carrie Healey (Toms River, N.J./Toms River North) (Toms River, NJ/Toms River North) positioned herself at the right place and put the rebound into the cage for a 2-1 advantage.

Kim Angstadt (Oley, PA/Oley Valley) (Oley/Oley Valley) put the score out of reach when she scored with under 10 minutes remaining. Katie Brautigan (Bernville, PA/Tulpehocken) (Bernville/Tulpehocken) recorded the assist.

Emily Falko (Catasauqua, PA/Catasauqua) (Catasauqua/Catasauqua) made five saves in cage for KU and stopped the offense by meeting them at the arc to knock the ball out of the defensive zone. Breah Kinney (Forty Fort, PA/Wyoming Valley West) (Forty Fort/Wyoming Valley West) continued her strong defensive play  with a defensive save in the second half.

The Golden Bears know what is at stake heading into the regular-season finale at C.W Post on Saturday at noon.

"Reaching the playoffs was our goal from the start of the season," said Waapu. "We hit a bit of a slide during the season, but hopefully we are over that now. Everyone on the team has stepped it up, regardless of if they are a freshman, senior or whatever. We need to remain focused and take care of business on Saturday."

C.W. Post defeated the Golden Bears 4-3 in double overtime on September 26.

"With the playoffs on the line and C.W. Post beating us early there is more motivation heading into the game," said Healey. "A win on Saturday against them will be twice as sweet."