KUTZTOWN, Pa. — The Kutztown University women's soccer team received goals from four different players in a 6-0 win over Millersville in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Division contest on Tuesday afternoon at Keystone Field.
"This was a great result for our team. We really wanted to end the first half of the PSAC schedule with as many point as possible," said coach Erik Burstein, as the Golden Bears finish the first half of the conference schedule with a 4-1-1 record.
The Golden Bears, ranked fourth in the Atlantic Region, began using its head both literally and metaphorically in the second half to pull away from Millersville. By using smart play, the Golden Bears forced numerous penalty corners.
The first goal of the second half came from a corner kick when BrieAnn Shipkowski (Manheim, PA/Manheim Central) (Manheim/Manheim Central) chipped the ball into play, Sarah Black (Hummelstown, PA/Lower Dauphin) (Hershey/Lower Dauphin) headed the ball toward Rhea Weaver (Hummelstown, PA/Lower Dauphin) (Humelstown/Lower Dauphin) who headed the ball into the left corner for her first collegiate goal.
After Shannon Pennock (Mansfield, N.J./Northern Burlington) (Mansfield, NJ/North Burlington) added her second goal, KU forced another scoring opportunity with a penalty corner. Shipkowski again sailed the ball in front of the net and Molly Cooper (Palmyra, PA/Palmyra) (Palmyra/Palmyra) headed the ball with force past the keeper.
"During the opening fifteen minutes of the first half we were truly superb. Our ability to keep possession of the ball really helped us generate some quality chances and I was thrilled we were able to get two goals during that spell," said Burstein. "In the second half it became clear we needed to do a better job competing for balls in the air, and we did. Sarah Black (Hummelstown, PA/Lower Dauphin) was fantastic in the air for us today and her commitment to winning those balls in the midfield really helped us gain momentum. I am thrilled with our effort today."
KU got a friendly bounce in the second half when Pennock ripped a ball past the keeper into the left post, which then deflected into the goal. Pennock's first goal came when she knocked a rebound into the back of the net in the first half to put KU up two.
"I was at the right place at the right time," explains Pennock. "I was in the box and Rhea [Weaver] had a shot that the goalie blocked. I just followed the shot and finished the play."
Alyssa Hackelberg (Randolph, N.J./Randolph) (Randolph, N.J./Randolph) kept the Marauders off the board with six saves in over 85 minutes of play. Junior Kristin Mann (Freehold, N.J./Colts Neck) (Freehold, NJ/Colts Neck) kept the shutout in tact with two saves, including diving stop with under two minutes to play.
The Golden Bears wasted no time getting the scoring started in the first half as Kelly Bushe (Neptune City, N.J./Neptune) (Neptune City, NJ/Neptune) dribbled through a group of defenders and drove the ball into the top right corner of the net.
Emily Froehlich (Perkasie, PA/Pennridge) (Perkasie/Pennridge) capped off the scoring for the Golden Bears. As a Millersville defender attempted to clear the ball out of the box, Froehlich blocked the shot and deflected it into the net for her second goal of the season.
Kutztown will take an eight-day break until it travels to Mansfield for a PSAC East contest at 4 p.m.
