SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Kutztown University field hockey team recorded its second straight shutout of a Pennsylvania Athletic Conference (PSAC) opponent on Saturday afternoon, defeating Slippery Rock 3-0 behind three first half goals at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.
On just the second shot of the afternoon in the 14th minute,
Madison Stewart (New Castle, Del./William Penn) gave KU (6-3, 2-1 PSAC) the only score it would need with her team-leading fifth goal of the season. The junior created her own space, dribbling into the Slippery Rock circle and unleashing her shot into the cage with 21:20 remaining.
Morgan Aldinger (Pennsburg, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) added a penalty stroke goal in the 21st minute before
Courtney Konowal (Plymouth Meeting, Pa./Plymouth-Whitemarsh) completed the scoring in the 30th with her third goal in the last two matches, as Kutztown completed the season sweep of its second straight opponent after defeating The Rock 3-1 on Sept. 10.
A defensive save on a Stewart shot proceeded KU's penalty stroke, and Aldinger converted on what was the Golden Bears' first penalty stroke attempt of 2016. The junior is now a perfect 4-4 on penalty strokes in her career, as she moved into third place on the team, behind Stewart and Konowal, with her third goal of the year.
Konowal is one goal ahead of Aldinger after her shot deflected off a Slippery Rock defender into the left side of the net just 5:14 ahead of the break.
Less than a minute before Konowal's score, Stewart forced yet another defensive save from the Slippery Rock defense. The Rock also recorded two defensive saves in the 68th minute, denying potential goal scoring opportunities by
Mackenzie Fuhrman (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township) and Stewart yet again.
Chardonnay Hope (New Castle, Del./William Penn) was challenged just once, less than one minute before Kutztown's first goal in the 13th minute, as she needed just one save to record her third shutout of the season.
KU held a 14-4 advantage in shots, putting 12 of those attempts on frame for an impressive .857 shot percentage. The Golden Bears also had nine penalty corners to Slippery Rock's five.
KU hits the road on Tuesday, Oct. 4 for its final road non-conference match of 2016, traveling to Saint Thomas Aquinas for a 4 p.m. first whistle.
