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KUTZTOWN, Pa. (November 2, 2011)—The nationally-ranked Kutztown University women's soccer team will face Slippery Rock University in the Pennsylvania State Athletic (PSAC) semifinal match on Friday, Nov. 4 at 1:30 p.m. at Roadman Park. The PSAC semifinals and championship will be hosted by California (Pa.).

The Golden Bears (15-4 overall) earned its second consecutive trip to the semifinals when it defeated Gannon University 2-1, in a PSAC quarterfinal match. Slippery Rock (14-3-2 overall) defeated West Chester 1-0 in the quarterfinals. Kutztown enters the game as the No.2 seed, while SRU is the third seed. Top-seeded California (16-0-2 overall) will take on fourth-seeded Edinboro (15-4-0 overall) on Friday at 11 a.m. The semifinal winners will advance to the PSAC Championship on Saturday, Nov. 5 which is scheduled to start at 4 p.m.

Admission is free for any students at PSAC institutions that have a valid ID. Ticket prices are $7 for adults and $2 for students.

Additionally, Kutztown is ranked 17th in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Top 25 Poll. The Vulcans are ranked fourth in the NSCAA poll and the Rock is 22nd. The Fighting Scots fell out of the national poll this week after being ranked 17th in the previous poll.

Kutztown is making its fourth consecutive trip to the playoffs. The Golden Bears have reached the championship game on three times in its history, but have never won a title. Kutztown lost to West Chester in the title game in 2009, in 2005 against Slippery Rock and in 2004 against Indiana (Pa.).

SRU leads the all-time series, 9-5-1 but Kutztown won the last matchup 1-0 on Sept. 24. Senior Carolynne Kahl (Bethel, PA/Tuplehocken) scored in the 88th minute to help KU slip away with the win. Since that game, SRU has posted 11 consecutive shutouts and has not allowed a goal since Kahl's goal. The Rock is currently riding a school record of 11 straight wins and shutouts. The 11 consecutive shutouts ties SRU for fifth all-time in Division II history.

The matchup between Kutztown and Slippery Rock will be evenly matched as their numbers on the season are closely associated.

This year, Kutztown outscores opponents 37-13 and outshoots them 269-136. The Rock on the other hand is outscoring opponents 33-6 and outshooting opponents 241-168. KU is likely to strike in the first half, with 20 of its 37 goals coming in the first 45 minutes.

The Golden Bears offense, which provides depth and versatility has been led by Maria Borland (Hagerstown, MD/Hagerstown) with 13 goals and one assist tallying 27 points. Borland has had four multi-goal games and four game winners this season. Kahl has also been key for KU with six goals and is tied second on the team in assists (four).

Janine Valerio (Washington Township, NJ/Washington Township) adds five goals along with two assists. Crystal Zerbe (Myerstown, PA/Tulpehocken) has scored four goals and handed out two assists. Bella Jaffin (Nescopeck, PA/Berwick Area) has recorded two goals and four assists. Stephanie Borland (Hagerstown, MD/Hagerstown) and Megan Black (Yardville, NJ/Steinert) both have two goals each. Three other
Golden Bears have scored at least one goal this season (Taylor Higgins (Leola, Pa./Conestoga Valley), Shannon Pennock (Mansfield, N.J./Northern Burlington) and Jordyn Davis (Mahwah, N.J./Mahwah)).

Casey Behrendt (Palmyra, PA/Palmyra) has played all but 45 minutes in goal for Kutztown and has recorded 10 shutouts. Behrendt has allowed 13 goals, tallying a 0.70 goals against average. She has 53 saves on the year for a .803 save percentage.

Offensively for the Rock, Kara Mullins and Lucy Hannon both have five game-winners this season. Mullins has 10 goals and three assists to lead the team with 23 points, while Hannon has nine goals and two assists for 21 points. Stephanie Buckenheimer has seven goals and three assists, and Shelby Ward  has four goals and leads the team in assists (nine).

SRU goalie Lisa Rodgers has 10 shutouts allowed five goals for a 0.35 goals against average. Rodgers has made 53 saves for a .914 save percentage.