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KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The Kutztown University field hockey senior class made an immediate impact Saturday, connecting for an opening goal in the opening minutes of action. The senior class led the eighth-ranked Golden Bears to a 2-0 victory over Mansfield University on Senior Day in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) action at Andre Reed Stadium.
 
Senior Megan Tiwold (Northampton, Pa./Northampton) was the difference maker. She scored twice in the first-half, her second-straight two-goal game.
 
Kutztown had a senior-to-senior connection to open the scoring in the first five minutes. Making the most of her Senior Day start, Julia Snyder (Red Lion, Pa./Dallastown Area) picked up an offensive rebound and found Tiwold at the far post for the first goal of the game.
 
Tiwold's activeness on the offensive end continued late in the half. Off a corner by senior Jessica Strohecker (Landisburg, Pa./West Perry), Courtney Konowal (Plymouth Meeting, Pa./Plymouth-Whitemarsh) passed across the circle to Madison Stewart (New Castle, Del./William Penn), who sent a hard cross to Tiwold at the far post. Just as she did on the first goal, Tiwold sent home the crossing pass for a 2-0 Kutztown lead in the 30th minute.
 
The pair marked Tiwold's third and fourth goals over the last two games, and four straight for the Golden Bears.
 
It was good that Kutztown got itself a pair of early goals, because Mansfield applied pressure with five shots and three corners in the first six minutes of the second half.
 
For the defense, Saturday was goalkeeper Chardonnay Hope (New Castle, Del./William Penn) and Kutztown's sixth shutout of the season. Hope made four saves.
 
Prior to action on Saturday, KU honored its senior class of Tiwold, Strohecker, Snyder, Analyse Gaspich (Palmyra, Pa./Lower Dauphin) and Courtney Ueberroth (Stevens, Pa./Cocalico) for Senior Day.
 
Kutztown hits the road on Tuesday, Oct. 18 for a road game at Seton Hill University beginning at 4 p.m.