WEST CHESTER, PA (November 12, 2010)— Heroic efforts were displayed on West Chester's South Campus Field as fourth-seeded Kutztown University battled with fifth-seeded Bloomsburg University until the end. Despite the 2-0 loss to the Huskies, the Golden Bears hustle and persistence was more than commendable. (BOXSCORE) (PHOTO GALLERY)
Kutztown senior Chelsea Deeter (Langhorne, PA/Neshaminy) plunged herself in front of the net to keep BU from scoring early in the opening minutes. Sophomore Stephanie Borland (Hagerstown, MD/Hagerstown) was all over the field, trying endlessly to get Kutztown on the board. She was also consistently around the ball, applying pressure or looking for ways to move the ball up the field.
Senior Kelly Bushe (Neptune City, N.J./Neptune)'s voice was heard constantly on the back line as she cheered her teammates on the entire game, never giving up. Sophomore Crystal Zerbe (Myerstown, PA/Tulpehocken), freshmen Kelly Rozembersky (Roxbury, N.J./Roxbury) and Megan Black (Yardville, NJ/Steinert), and juniors Carolynne Kahl (Bethel, PA/Tuplehocken) and Shannon Pennock (Mansfield, N.J./Northern Burlington) all did their best for the Golden Bears, but the game's fate was in favor of Bloomsburg, who used two goals from BU's Tara Huber to advance to a second round meeting against West Chester Sunday afternoon.
Sad faces, tears, and other streams of emotions covered the flushed faces of the KU players as they left the field following a terrific effort. Kutztown finished its season with a 14-5-2 overall record. There's always a lesson to every story, and although it may not seem like a happy ending for the Golden Bears, this experience changed the lives of many.
The sisterly bond they shared has more value than a friend or teammate Before the game started, Kutztown met in a huddle and they didn't yell “KU” or “Golden Bears” but in sweet unison it shouted “family”, and that's why it was so hard for some to say goodbye.
“I'm sad and it's not just because of soccer not being a part of my life anymore,” Bushe said. “It's leaving Kutztown is what stinks. The girls here are awesome; they're phenomenonal athletes, and even better people. Bloomsburg capitalized on our errors, we worked hard, but it just didn't fall through for us.”
KU will have most of its returning squad for next season and it's taking this experience as one to grow from and rebuild on next year.
“Overall we had a really great season,” Borland said. “All the girls did a great job and it's unfortunate that we didn't get the win today. “I'm looking forward to next season, I can't wait to get back out and hopefully not only make it to the NCAA tournament again, but advance to the second round.”
This season has been a lesson to most of the underclassmen and with the seniors leaving, they will have some big shoes to fill.
“This was a honor and its been a dream come true,” said Bushe as she emotionally expressed her time at Kutztown. “If I had to go out, this was the best way to do it. They were fabulous and that's why it's so hard to leave. Fortunately this team doesn't live or die by one person and when we leave, someone else will step up. I'm excited for them for next season and Deeter and I will be at every game as the biggest KU groupies.”
Anticipation is already lurking for next season, but the Golden Bears know that they have a lot of hard work and training to encounter before imagining another stellar season.
This season has been full of many achievements. The Golden Bears earned their second consecutive trip to the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region tournament. They are the first women's soccer team in school history to earn consecutive trips to the NCAA tournament. Kutztown reached its 200th win in program history and Burstein recorded his 50th career victory. The Golden Bears enjoyed a nine-match unbeaten streak, and Kutztown was nationally-ranked its entire 2010 season.
The Golden Bears recorded 11 shutouts and was one win shy from tying the program record for victories in a season. Kutztown placed four members on the all-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) team. Deeter, Borland, and Kahl were named to the first team, while Zerbe was named to the third team.
“I'm proud of everyone,” Kutztown head women's soccer coach Erik Burstein said. “It's not easy making it to the PSACs or the NCAA tournament and we did both. It's an honor to be one of 48 teams participating in the tournament. I have enjoyed the last four years with the seniors and they built this. Without them, none of this would have been possible.”
