WEST CHESTER, Pa. (October 21, 2011) – The Kutztown University field hockey team fought its heart out, but was unable to clinch a spot in the postseason Friday night.  KU dropped a 3-1 decision to West Chester University in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division matchup at Vonnie Gros Field.  (BOXSCORE)
 
The Golden Bears (10-8 overall, 4-6 PSAC East) are tied for third in the East with C.W. Post.  Both teams played its final regular season games on Friday.  C.W. Post (9-7, 4-6) fell to Bloomsburg in overtime on Friday, 2-1.  With the addition of West Chester to the PSAC this year, three teams from each division now move onto the conference playoffs.  Bloomsburg (17-0, 10-0) secured the top seed with its undefeated season, and West Chester (14-3, 8-2) will hold the second seed.
 
Emily Labowitz (Bala Cynwyd, PA/Lower Merion) scored her team-leading and career-high 12th goal of the season under three minutes into the game.  The junior has been a remarkable talent for the Golden Bears this season.  She has scored in ten of KU's 18 games this season and has two multi-goal performances.  Labowitz closes the regular season with a team-leading 25 points.  Playing with a younger team this season, KU certainly has great things to look forward to in the future.
 
“Emily has been great for us this year,” head field hockey coach Betty Wesner said.  “She has that drive and competitiveness to help lead a team.  She's a go-getter every time she steps on the field.  Emily Falko (Catasauqua, PA/Catasauqua) and Kim Angstadt (Oley, PA/Oley Valley) have been great captains as well this season.  Their leadership in their senior season really brought this team together.  The chemistry on our team has been great this season.”
 
Friday's match marked the final regular season game for three KU seniors.  Julie Rosenkaimer (Lansdale, PA/North Penn), Falko and Angstadt have all contributed to the KU field hockey program over the past four years.  KU achieved double-digit victories for the eighth consecutive year this season, and also secured a winning record for the fifth straight season.
 
The Golden Bears allowed a pair of late second-half goals to the Golden Rams and could not respond with a spark of their own.  Leah Angstadt, Brynn Adams and Alisha Moran all scored for WCU.  West Chester outshot KU, 12-8, and had 15 penalty corners to KU's four.  Both WCU second-half goals were off penalty corners.
 
“I thought it was awesome the way our team came out tonight,” Wesner said.  “We scored right away and I really thought we played well.  Unfortunately, we couldn't hang on late in the game.”
 
KU entered the match ranked eighth in the Kookaburra / National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) top poll.  WCU was ranked third.
 
The remainder of Kutztown's season now lies in the hands of two opposing conference schools.  With both KU and C.W. Post falling Friday, the result of Saturday's contest between Millersville and East Stroudsburg will decide their playoff fates.
 
If East Stroudsburg defeats Millersville, CW Post is the No. 3 seed based on a 2-0 record vs. East Stroudsburg.  Kutztown was 1-1.  

If Millersville defeats East Stroudsburg, the PSAC goes to its fourth tiebreaking scenario based on wins in regulation.  Kutztown would be the No. 3 seed based on all four PSAC wins coming in regulation.  C.W. Post will have three regulation wins, and one overtime win.
 
KU's last appearance in the PSAC playoffs was in 2009.