KUTZTOWN, PA (November 11, 2009) – Lauren Solley (Oley, PA/Olley Valley) (Oley/Oley Valley) of the Kutztown University field hockey team finished among the top in Division II in numerous statistical categories after a breakout senior season.
After missing the 2007 season with a torn ACL and not being at full strength in the 2008 season, Solley prepared herself in the offseason with harder workouts and played in a summer league.
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| Senior Lauren Solley (Oley, PA/Olley Valley) led KU in scoring in 2009 with 13 goals. |
Her hard work paid off and was shown with her team-best 13 goals. Those goals, paired with five assists gave her a total of 31 points for the season, which ranks seventh all-time at KU. Solley's 1.63 points per game average ranks 16th in Division II. Teammates Anne Waapu (Hastings, NEW ZEALAND/) (Hastings/NEW ZEALAND) finished 22nd (1.50) and freshman standout Jenna Gregory (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg) (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg) was 34th (1.20).
In a 9-1 win over Catawba at the Joshua W. Wesner Memorial Tournament, Solley had the best-game, statistically, of her career. Her five goal day was the most in school history and led Division II for most goals in a single game. The 10 points that she accumulated is also the most in Division II and ranks tied for second in KU history.
“It was the most goals that I have ever scored in a game,” said Solley. “It felt great to get the school record and it was a great way for the team to start the season. And for me, it was a good way to start my season coming off of the injury.”
Solley also ranks tied for 13th with a 0.68 goals per game average, while Waapu ranks 20th with a 0.63 average.
"Lauren is one of the main reasons for our offensive success, says coach Betty Wesner. "She possesses some of the best stick work, game sense and knowledge of the game of field hockey that I have seen while coaching here at KU!"
Solley graciously gives credit to her teammates with providing the scoring opportunities that she took advantage of all season.
“The team got me the ball,” said Solley. “The entire team worked well all year with working the ball around to each other. I just found myself at the right place at the right time.”
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Carrie Healey
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Breah Kinney (Forty Fort, PA/Wyoming Valley West)
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Throughout the season, the Golden Bears rattled off two winning streaks of five. The first five-win stretch was to start the season, with Solley scoring seven goals in that time. The final win of that streak was one that neither Solley nor anyone involved with KU field hockey, past or present, will ever forget.
“Our 2-1 win against Bloomsburg was the highlight of my career at Kutztown,” said Solley. “It meant a lot to the girls on the team, the coaches and past alumni who wanted to beat them so bad. It was an accomplishment that is hard to describe.”
The Golden Bears other streak occurred at the end of the season in a push for the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference playoffs.
Along with Solley,Carrie Healey (Toms River, N.J./Toms River North) (Toms River, N.J./Toms River North) and Breah Kinney (Forty Fort, PA/Wyoming Valley West) (Forty Fort/Wyoming Valley West) have finished off great careers for the maroon and gold.
Healey recorded three goals and six assists in 2009, two of her goals were game winners. The forward finished her career with 72 games played, scoring 18 goals and adding 15 assists.
Kinney was a key to the KU defense for two seasons after transferring from Alvernia College. Her only career goal is a game winner against Adelphi in 2008. In 2009, Kinney made four defensive saves, including a key gave saver in the win against Bloomsburg.
The season ended with a loss to Shippensburg in the PSAC semifinal to finish with a 12-8 record overall. The Golden Bears will enter the 2010 season with a young, talented group expect to be among the team's to beat in the PSAC.
--KU--
