KUTZTOWN, PA. (August 10, 2010) – The Kutztown University women's soccer team is beginning the 2010 season the way it finished its memorable 2009 year: Among the nation's elite. The Golden Bears are ranked 22nd in the National Soccer Coaches' Association of America (NSCAA) Top 25 preseason poll. (CLICK FOR COMPLETE POLL)
Kutztown finished the 2009 season ranked 25th and appeared in nine of the 11 weekly polls, peaking at No. 9 on Sept. 15. The Golden Bears return nine starters from a team that set school records in victories (15) and shutouts (13). Kutztown participated in the 2009 NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional tournament.
“I am very excited for the girls and I truly hope this motivates them to work even harder this pre-season,” Kutztown head women's soccer coach Erik Burstein said. “We earned this ranking because of what we achieved last season, and although it is a great honor to enter the year in the Top 25, the players have to realize that this is a new year, a new team and we face greater challenges.”
Four all-conference players return to lead Kutztown this season. Junior Chelsea Bressler (Cleona, PA/Annville-Cleona), senior Cheslea Deeter, junior Shannon Pennock (Mansfield, N.J./Northern Burlington) were Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division first team selections while sophomore Kelly Rozembersky (Roxbury, N.J./Roxbury) was a second team honoree.
Deeter, a women's soccer national player of the year candidate, and Rozembersky anchored a defense that allowed 17 goals in 2009. A two-time first team all-PSAC selection, Deeter was named to the first team Atlantic Region squads of the Daktronics and NSCAA postseason teams. She's one of the best defenders in the PSAC.
Bressler enters the season with 20 career goals and 50 points after scoring 10 times last season. Bressler scored at least one point in 13 of Kutztown's 23 matches and she scored five game-winning goals. Pennock finished with six goals and 14 points last season. Both players were also named to the NSCAA Atlantic Region second team.
The Golden Bears will also receive a boost from sophomore BrieAnn Shipkowski (Manheim, PA/Manheim Central), sophomore Laura Hearn (Wall, N.J./St. Rose) and senior Kelly Bushe (Neptune City, N.J./Neptune), who were also integral members of Kutztown's stingy defensive unit. They return to provide experience. Sophomore goalkeeper Alyssa Hackelberg (Randolph, N.J./Randolph), who made 101 saves and recorded a program record 13 shutouts, also return for the Golden Bears. Sophomore Sarah Black (Hummelstown, PA/Lower Dauphin) started a majority of the matches last season and were key members of the team.
Other key returnees for the Golden Bears include sophomore Emily Froehlich (Perkasie, PA/Pennridge), sophomore Julia DiFerdinando (Chadds Ford, PA/Garnet Valley), senior Jen Pyne (Wall Township, N.J./Wall) and sophomore Morgan Muracco (Washington Township, N.J./Paul VI). Froehlich scored Kutztown's only goal in the NCAA playoffs last season against California.
Kutztown is one of three PSAC schools ranked in the preseason Top 25. California is sixth and West Chester is 16th. Grand Valley State begins the season ranked No. 1. The Golden Bears begin their 2010 season against Concord University on Friday, September 3, in the East Stroudsburg University tournament.
“As a program we are very excited by how far we have come,” Burstein said “Now we need to maintain this standard, and that alone will be a challenge, but we are looking forward to it.”
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