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KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The Kutztown University field hockey team jumped out to a two-goal lead in the first half and shifted momentum that it never let go in a 2-0 win over Bloomsburg University on Tuesday night in a pivotal Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) matchup under the lights at University Field.
 
Junior goalkeeper and team captain Kayla Denlinger (Manheim, Pa./Hempfield) was unstoppable in the cage for the Golden Bears (6-5, 4-3 PSAC). She tied her season-high with 12 saves, including a timely penalty stroke save late in the game with Bloomsburg (3-7, 2-6) pressuring.
 
Denlinger's effort, along with the impressive night of the defensive back line, helped Kutztown notch its first shutout of the season. The win over Bloomsburg not only was KU's second of the season over the Huskies, but it marked the first time since 1983 that KU defeated Bloomsburg twice in a season. Prior to this year, the 2009 Golden Bears were the most recent team besides the 1983 club to claim a win over Bloomsburg.
 
Kutztown struck for both of its goals within four minutes of each other in the first half. Coming off a penalty corner in the 22nd minute, inputter Morgan Aldinger (Pennsburg, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) took control of a crossing pass from Megan Tiwold (Northampton, Pa./Northampton) and beat the Bloomsburg keeper to give KU a 1-0 lead. Nearly four minutes later in the 25th minute off another corner, Aldinger took control of the ball and sent a pass across the goal line to Tiwold, who sent the pass into the back of the net to keep the scoring streak alive for a 2-0 lead.
 
Bloomsburg continued to apply pressure in the second half, but the KU defense did not allow the Huskies to take advantage of any opening. Bloomsburg threatened KU in the final 10 minutes of action with flurries of shots and corners, capped with a penalty stroke attempt following Denlinger's 11th save of the night. Candice Smith went to the bottom left corner with her ensuing shot, but Denlinger threw her pad out and slapped the ball away to protect the shutout.
 
The win lifts Kutztown to 4-3 in the PSAC for fifth in the standings. The team's preseason goal was to put it back in the playoffs for the first time since 2009, and so far it's on target to finish in the top six to earn a playoff bid.
 
The Golden Bears hit the road for their next two games, beginning with another significant conference game against Slippery Rock (6-6, 4-4) on Saturday, Oct. 18 at 12 p.m.