KUTZTOWN, PA. (September 2, 2009) – Maybe Shannon Pennock (Mansfield, N.J./Northern Burlington) (Mansfield, NJ/North Burlington) should change her name to the “Human Alarm Clock.”
The sophomore forward scored two goals and added an assist after intermission to wake-up the slumbering Kutztown University women's soccer team.
Kutztown rode Pennock's energy to score all of its goals in the second half during a 6-0 victory over Mansfield Wednesday afternoon in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division opener for both teams.
Kutztown, ranked sixth in the latest NSCAA Atlantic Regional rankings, improved to 2-0 overall and 1-0 in conference. Mansfield dropped to 2-1 and 0-1. Pennock got the Golden Bears going and along with a tenacious defensive effort helped freshman goalie Alyssa Hackelberg (Randolph, N.J./Randolph) (Randolph, NJ/Randolph) earn her first career shutout. Hackelberg made four saves as KU defeated Mansfield for the fourth consecutive time.
Once Pennock provided her teammates with a much-needed jolt, nobody in maroon-and-gold hit the snooze button. The Golden Bears controlled the second half. Midway through the second half, the Golden Bears unleashed a three-goal barrage in a three-minute span to give them the breathing room they needed to prevail.
“I don't think we were working as hard in the first half,” Pennock said. “We definitely came out a little flat, but we picked up our intensity in the second half.”
In outshooting Mansfield, 11-2, over the final 45 minutes, Kutztown turned up the pressure, started racing around the field and winning every loose ball. Pennock, who scored the game-winning overtime goal against nationally-ranked Mercyhurst last Friday, picked up where she left off by scoring the Golden Bears' first two goals of the contest. Three minutes into the second half, Pennock scored on a direct kick blast from about 30 yards out.
Pennock's most impressive shot was when she corralled a rebound, turned and fired – all in one motion -- a rocket from about 20 yards out into the net that looked like it was accompanied by a vapor trail in the 69th minute. Kutztown was just getting started.
Pennock took a corner kick and the ball found teammate Jen Tice (Barnegat, N.J./Southern Regional) (Barnegat, NJ/Southern Regional), who put the ball in the net despite being surrounded by a forest of bodies in the 73rd minute. Before fans could get settled into their seats, freshman Kelly Rozembersky (Roxbury, N.J./Roxbury) (Roxbury, NJ/Roxbury) scored in the 74th minute and junior Kelly Bushe (Neptune City, N.J./Neptune) (Neptune City, NJ/Neptune) scored in the 75th minute.
Sophomore Emily Froehlich (Perkasie, PA/Pennridge) (Perkasie/Pennridge) finished off the scoring with a goal in the 81st minute.
“Obviously I am very excited to have won this match,” Kutztown coach Erik Burstein said. “It is always critical to win your home conference matches, and with a better second half effort, we were able to do that. We received some great individual efforts, especially from Shannon Pennock (Mansfield, N.J./Northern Burlington), and we scored some truly fantastic goals. Although at times we played well as a unit, it was the individual efforts, and defensive stability, that propelled us to victory today.”
The defense was solid throughout the game. The blanket-like defense of junior Chelsea Deeter (Langhorne, PA/Neshaminy) (Langhorn/Nehsmainy), freshman Brie Shipkowski (Manheim/Manheim Central), sophomore Laura Hearn (Wall, N.J./St. Rose) (Wall, NJ/St. Rose) and Rozembersky helped keep the game scoreless until Kutztown found its groove. Senior Raven Chiara (Jamesburg, N.J./Monroe Township) (Jamesburg, NJ/Monroe Township), sophomore Chelsea Bressler (Cleona, PA/Annville-Cleona) (Cleona/Annville-Cleona), freshman Sarah Black (Hummelstown, PA/Lower Dauphin) (Hershey/Lower Dauphin), freshman Julia DiFerdinando (Chadds Ford, PA/Garnet Valley) (Chadds Ford/Garnet Valley) and freshman Megan Zimmerman (Warminster, PA/William Tennet) (Warminster/William Tennent) created havoc throughout the game, setting up some scoring opportunities.
Mansfield was led by freshman Erika Moyer, who used her speed, to generate a team-high three shots. Mansfield keeper Samantha Deliere made nine saves.
Kutztown continues its early season home schedule when it hosts Charleston (W. Va.) Saturday morning beginning at 11:00 a.m. Mansfield returns to action when its hosts East Stroudsburg at 1:30 p.m. in a PSAC East contest. KU visits Mansfield on Wednesday September 30.
--KU--
