KUTZTOWN, Pa. – If there was any question on whether the Kutztown University field hockey team deserved its top-five ranking in the country, those critics were silenced Wednesday night. Despite fifth-ranked KU fighting back and overcoming a late deficit, third-ranked Shippensburg University scored the game-winning goal with 19 seconds left for a 3-2 victory in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) action from Andre Reed Stadium.
The Golden Bears (4-3, 1-1 PSAC) trailed in the first 10 minutes and had their resilience put to the test. The Raiders (6-1, 1-0) held the momentum early on, but just as it has all year, KU showed a great deal of heart and guts against a perennial national-championship squad.
Courtney Ueberroth (Stevens, Pa./Cocalico) had her shot stopped on the goal line by Shippensburg's Rajchel Moore in the 25th minute, but the referee ruled a foul on Moore and awarded a penalty stroke for KU.
Morgan Aldinger (Pennsburg, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) stepped to the line, donning her fresh new face mask from a harsh injury last week, and pocketed the shot in the back right corner of the cage to tie the game at 1-1 heading into halftime.
Shippensburg scored in the first eight minutes of the second half, as Kutztown struggled to find the spark it needed.
Senior
Anna Behm (Kutztown, Pa./Kutztown) entered the game as Division II's scoring leader, but due to a stout Shippensburg back line, was not able to get many touches through the first 50 minutes of the game. She made the most of a late opportunity in the 59th minute. On one of the first times she ever touched the ball inside the circle all night, Behm took a pass from
Analyse Gaspich (Palmyra, Pa./Lower Dauphin) and beat the keeper to bring the Golden Bear faithful to a rousing ovation.
Kutztown nearly had a point-blank scoring opportunity in the 69th minute, but outstanding presence by Shippensburg keeper Taylor Webster kept the ball out of the cage and into transition.
Shippensburg attacked down the right sideline in the final seconds, got the ball in front dribbling past the KU keeper, and Kendall Beck scored the game-winner from the middle of the circle with 19 seconds left to put an end to the potential comeback.
Shippensburg outshot Kutztown 23-8, but KU battled back and nearly won the game in the final minutes.
The Golden Bears get some time to recuperate before traveling to Erie on Saturday, Sept. 26 to face Mercyhurst University at 5 p.m.
