KUTZTOWN, Pa. — Julie Rosenkaimer (Lansdale, PA/North Penn) (North Penn/Lansdale) nailed a game winner late in the second half and the Golden Bears celebrated a history making 2-1 victory on their drive home from Bloomsburg.
At the 59 minute mark of the game, Rosenkaimer deflected a cross-cage pass from Lauren Solley (Oley, PA/Olley Valley) (Oley/Oley Valley) into the left corner of the cage during a scramble in front of the net.
After the remaining 11 minutes expired, the Kutztown University field hockey team ended a 39-match winless drought against Bloomsburg, a losing streak older than all the players on the field, which started in 1983.
"The girls played with a tremendous amount of heart today. You could see that they really wanted to win the game," said coach Betty Wesner. "Bloomsburg is an amazing team with lots of speed and talent. Our girls kept with them the whole game and things fell into place and went our way."
KU, ranked No. 5 in the preseason poll, fell behind 1-0 after the Huskies (3-1, 0-1 PSAC East) Breanne Tobin scored an unassisted goal four minutes into the contest.
Anne Waapu (Hastings, NEW ZEALAND/) (Hastings/NEW ZEALAND) evened the contest 1-1 by knocking a penalty corner past the goalkeeper, Solley was credited with the first of her two assists.
The Golden Bears kept their momentum churning after sweeping three games at the Joshua W. Wesner Memorial Tournament over the weekend. KU allowed only one goal in the tournament, and the defense picked up where they left off.
The Huskies got off seven shots on goal, with goalkeeper Emily Falko (Catasauqua, PA/Catasauqua) (Catasauqua/Catasauqua) making six saves and earning her third win of the season. Breah Kinney (Forty Fort, PA/Wyoming Valley West) (Forty Fort/Wyoming Valley West) made a clutch defensive save in the second half to keep the contest even at 1-1.
"It was a great win, this is one of the things we worked for in the off-season," said senior captain Carrie Healey (Toms River, N.J./Toms River North) (Toms River/Toms River North). "It is a great feeling beating Bloomsburg to earn your first conference win. It gives our team a comforting feeling and more self esteem knowing we can beat one of the best teams in the nation."
Rosenkaimer's goal was her third of the young season and second game winner. Waapu added her fourth goal of the season and Solley now has four assists to go along with her team-best seven goals.
The Golden Bears will travel to East Stroudsburg on Saturday for a 1 p.m. PSAC East contest.
