KUTZTOWN, PA. (November 13, 2009) – For the second time in nine days, the Kutztown University women's soccer team will meet California University of Pennsylvania. However, the stakes are much higher this time around. Kutztown and Cal will meet in an NCAA Division II Atlantic Region second round game at Keystone Field on Sunday, November 15 beginning at 1 p.m. with a trip to the Sweet 16 at stake.
Kutztown (15-5-2 overall) defeated California, 1-0, in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) semifinals at West Chester on sophomore forward Chelsea Bressler (Cleona, PA/Annville-Cleona)'s goal last Friday. That victory is the reason why Kutztown, ranked 17th in the final regular season National Soccer Coaches' Association of America poll, will enjoy the comforts of home. This will be Kutztown's first home NCAA playoff game in program history.
California (17-5-1) advanced to the second round after holding off a furious West Virginia Wesleyan rally, 1-0, in its first NCAA playoff game in program history. PSAC West Player of the Year Amanda Heister scored the decisive tally off of an assist from Sam Regner in the 17th minute.
Ticket prices for the game are $8 for adults and $5 for senior citizens and students.
Kutztown is 9-3-2 all-time against California (Pa.), which is ranked 24th in the latest NSCAA poll. The Golden Bears have won five straight over the Vulcans, including the last four by shutout. However, in the match last week between the two teams, California outshot Kutztown, 12-4 and 8-0 in the first half.
Kutztown has been paced this season by the stellar defensive quartet of junior Chelsea Deeter (Langhorne, PA/Neshaminy) (Langhorne/Neshaminy), freshman Kelly Rozembersky (Roxbury, N.J./Roxbury) (Roxbury, N.J./Roxbury), junior Kelly Bushe (Neptune City, N.J./Neptune) (Neptune City, NJ/Neptune) and BrieAnn Shipkowski (Manheim, PA/Manheim Central) (Manheim/Manheim Central) and the strong goalkeeping of freshman Alyssa Hackelberg (Randolph, N.J./Randolph) (Randolph, NJ/Randolph).
Together, they have helped Kutztown set school records for wins in a season (15) and shutouts (13). Offensively, Kutztown has been paced by a balanced attack in which 14 different players have scored at least one goals. Bressler leads the Golden Bears with 10 goals and 24 points. Freshman forward Molly Cooper (Palmyra, PA/Palmyra) (Palmyra/Palmyra) has scored seven goals and sophomore midfielder Shannon Pennock (Mansfield, N.J./Northern Burlington) (Mansfield, NJ/North Burlington) has added six goals.
In the first meeting between Cal and Kutztown, freshman Sarah Black (Hummelstown, PA/Lower Dauphin) (Hershey/Lower Dauphin) shook one defender and dumped a pass off to Bressler, who beat one defender and shot across the front of the net and into the right corner for the only goal of the contest. The Golden Bears allowed one Cal shot in the final 23 minutes.
For Cal, Heister is the engine that fuels the Vulcans. She established a new all-time Cal (Pa) record with 105 career points. She was previously tied at 103 points with Cal U Hall of Famer Sherry Valera (1992-95) for the career school record. Heister leads the conference with 18 goals, which ties Kristie Strunk (1990) for second place in single-season history and is one behind the record of 19 set by Valera in 1994. She helped Cal win the PSAC West for the first time in school history.
Regney is second on the team in assists (seven), goals (eight) and points (22). Cal keeper Paula Jackson has recorded 11 shutouts this season.
Both teams placed four players each to the all-PSAC teams. Kutztown had Bressler, Deeter and Pennock selected to the first team while Rozembersky was named to the second team. Regney and Heister were first team selections for the Vulcans while Jackson and Carley Work earned second team recognition.
The winner of this match will keep its dreams alive of a national championship and meet the winner of the Indiana, Pa.-West Chester game on Friday, November 20 at a site and time to be determined.
--KU--
