KUTZTOWN, PA (October 31, 2010) – The Kutztown University defense has come together at the perfect time for head coach Erik Burstein.
The Golden Bears (13-3-2 overall) open the 2010 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) playoffs as the third seed and will host sixth-seeded Edinboro University (11-5-1) Tuesday afternoon at Keystone Field beginning at 1 p.m.
Ticket prices for this quarterfinal match will be $7 for adults and $2 for students. PSAC students will be admitted for free with ID. PSAC passes will be accepted.
Kutztown is ranked 22nd in the latest National Soccer Coaches' Association of America (NSCAA) top 25 poll and third in the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region soccer poll. Edinboro is ranked sixth in the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region soccer poll.
Kutztown edged Edinboro, 1-0, on Oct. 16. Carolynne Kahl (Bethel, PA/Tuplehocken)'s goal two minutes into the game was the difference-maker for the Golden Bears. In that game, Edinboro controlled most of the action and held a 20-5 edge in shots. Burstein knows the Golden Bears has their work cut out for them in this rugged PSAC quarterfinal match.
“Edinboro is well coached and very organized,” Burstein said. “We struggled in our game with them during the regular season and I felt we were fortunate to get a positive result on the night. Their players are strong, technical and work well together. It will be a very competitive game for us I am sure.”
The Golden Bear defense is clicking, having posted three straight shutouts and five in KU's last six games. With the steady and veteran presence of seniors Chelsea Deeter and Kelly Bushe, the Golden Bears have found their groove in front of keepers Casey Behrendt and Alyssa Hackelberg. Supporting Deeter and Bushe have been Kelly Rozembersky, a second team all-PSAC East performer in 2009, and the ever-improving Laura Hearn.
The defense will be key in helping KU advance to the PSAC title game for the second straight season.
“Laura has made tremendous progress over the last two years and I think the best is still yet to come,” Burstein said. “She is having an excellent season and she continues to show improvement. We have seen tremendous growth from her and I am completely confident she can anchor the back line in the coming years,”
Kutztown's defense will have to be at its absolute best to get past a red-hot Edinboro team that has scored eight goals during its three-game winning streak. The Golden Bears will look to put the clamps on the Fighting Scots' scoring tandem of Karisa Fernandez (10 goals) and Rachel Dahlstrand (seven goals). Overall, 11 different players have scored a goal for the Fighting Scots, who are back in the PSAC playoffs after a two-year absence.
“When our backline is focused and completely in sync we are difficult to break down,” Burstein said. “Our back line has been the most consistent line on the field for us this season. When we are under great pressure we seem to do an excellent job of seeing things out and keeping games close.”
If the Golden Bears defense can keep the game close, then Burstein knows one of his offensive players will find the back of the net. Kutztown has ridden the recent scoring surge of Kahl during its eight-match unbeaten streak. Kahl, who was named PSAC player of the week after scoring a hat-trick against Bloomsburg, has scored a goal in four of KU's last five games. Crystal Zerbe (Myerstown, PA/Tulpehocken) and Sam Moyer (Pipersville, PA/Central Bucks West) have also provided some offensive punch for KU during the last couple of weeks.
The winner of this game advances to the PSAC semifinals Friday afternoon and will play the winner of the California-Indiana game at the site of the highest remaining seed. Kutztown could host if it beats Edinboro and both West Chester and California lose.
Defending tournament champion and preseason favorite West Chester has claimed the No. 1 seed as the regular season champions, while California, the defending NCAA regional champion who was picked second in the preseason poll, is the No. 2 seed.
Tuesday, November 2 - Quarterfinals (at higher seed)
(8) Shippensburg at (1) West Chester, 1:00 p.m.
(7) IUP at (2) California, 1:00 p.m.
(6) Edinboro at (3) Kutztown, 1:00 p.m.
(5) Slippery Rock at (4) Bloomsburg, 1:00 p.m.
Friday, November 5 - Semifinals (at highest remaining seed, 11:00 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.)
Shippensburg/West Chester vs. vs. Slippery Rock/Bloomsburg
IUP/California vs. Edinboro/Kutztown
Saturday, November 6 - Championship
