Box Score



California (PA) 6, Kutztown 1 (HTML Box Score)

CALIFORNIA, Pa. – After earning the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament victory two days ago, Kutztown's women's soccer season ended on the road against a top-10 team in the nation. The Golden Bears fell to the sixth-ranked California (PA) Vulcans, 6-1, in the NCAA Tournament Second Round.

On a rainy afternoon at the Phillipsburg Soccer Complex, located on the campus of California (PA), the Vulcans established their authority with supreme play early in their offensive third. Off a corner kick in the second minute from Erin Hogan, Haley Henderson took a header about four yards from the far post. The shot went past senior keeper Alina Rakiewicz (Denver, PA/Cocalico) to give the Vulcans a 1-0 lead.

Cal didn't take long after that to take a commanding multi-goal lead, when Kelsey Russo fed Chelsea Crockett inside the box. Crockett converted the goal to build a 2-0 Vulcans lead just five minutes into the game.

After a pair of goals from Erin Hogan and another from Bethany Smyda, the California lead ballooned to 5-0 by halftime. Kutztown kept the second half tally even, as Hanna Fenstermacher (West Grove, Pa./Avon Grove) scored in the 85th minute on a set piece by Mariah Dimm (Lancaster, Pa./Hempfield). The goal countered the Janelle McCann goal for Cal, which occurred in the 70th minute.

"Because it's a young team, we needed the experience of being here," head coach Erik Burstein said about his young team. "Of course, we played Cal closer the first time we played them, but we need the experience of winning a tournament game and playing again two days later."

The loss acts as a bitter way to end one of the best seasons in Kutztown women's soccer history. The Golden Bears earned the program's first victory in the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Championship during Friday's 2-0 victory against West Chester.

Kutztown also has plenty to celebrate from the regular season, especially for a club that carries only two seniors in center back Katie Oliveri (Mifflinburg, PA/Mifflinburg) and keeper Alina Rakiewicz (Denver, PA/Cocalico). When earned a top-25 rank during the final National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) / Continental Tire National Poll of the regular season, it marked the sixth consecutive year in which KU earned a national ranking. Also, with 13 wins this season, the Golden Bears have won double-digit games for 12 consecutive seasons.

"Our underclassmen are tremendous," Burstein said. "We lose a good senior captain and a good senior goalkeeper, but we also have great underclassmen leadership in Sam Costello (Westfield, N.J./Westfield) and Diana Malanga (Lavallette, N.J./St. Rose).

"We have a great core group to move forward. The character, passion and determination in the players we have are the reasons why we're in the position we are in every year."

Moving forward for Kutztown, there will be heavy potential for the returners to make a monster impact in 2014. Leading scorer Sam Costello (Westfield, N.J./Westfield) (six goals, 11 assists) made the all-PSAC First Team, and will be a senior next year. Meanwhile, two freshmen in Megan Frailer (Bel Air, Md./C. Milton Wright) and Alaina Curry (York, Pa./Dallastown Area) led the Maroon and Gold with seven goals apiece. Finally, Kutztown will return all-PSAC Second Team midfielder in sophomore Diana Malanga (Lavallette, N.J./St. Rose) and all-PSAC Third Team defender in freshman Katie Miller (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn).

"We have a great group here, so the development going through the spring is significant," Burstein said. "They're going to be a lot better, faster and sharper. We look forward to see how these very good players progress moving forward."

With Kutztown returning a strong squad next year, the future seems to be burning bright for Burstein's crew. For now, the Golden Bears will reflect on their first-ever NCAA Tournament victory and learn lessons from Cal's strong play in the offensive third.