EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. – Despite doubling up the top-ranked team in the nation in corners, 12-6, the No. 6 Kutztown University field hockey team could not turn the offensive pressure into any goals as it was shutout by No. 1 East Stroudsburg, 2-0, on Saturday in its Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) opener.
KU (4-3, 0-1 PSAC) also matched East Stroudsburg (7-2, 1-0) in shot attempts, 8-8, but could only manage to put three of those efforts on net, all of which came in a span of 1:42 in the 22nd and 23rd minutes.
Kutztown did not record a shot attempt in the final 44 and a half minutes.
The KU defense did its part in limiting the PSAC leaders in shots to just four attempts in the final 54 minutes. Holding onto a slim 1-0 advantage thanks to a ninth minute goal, ESU finally added insurance with just under five minutes to play when Desiraye Mack doubled the lead with 4:53 on the clock.
Prior to that,
Chardonnay Hope (New Castle, Del./William Penn) had stopped five of the first six shots she faced as she ended the day with five saves.
Danielle Ard opposed her by saving all three shots on her net to record the shutout.
It was East Stroudsburg who struck first despite KU registering the first three shots of the afternoon. Paige Harrold gave the Warriors the early lead on their first attempt of the game just 8:02 into the contest.
Both goalies were forced to make three saves in quick succession in the middle portion of the half. First it was Hope denying three shots in in the span of 41 seconds in the 17th minute. Just over four minutes later Ard was worked for the first time, stopping an attempt by
Analyse Gaspich (Palmyra, Pa./Lower Dauphin) in the 22nd minute and then back-to-back shots from
Mackenzie Fuhrman (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township) in the 23rd.
Aside from the goal, those were the only attempts on net in the opening 35 minutes as
Megan Tiwold (Northampton, Pa./Northampton) had the final shot of the half, sending her effort wide in the 26th minute.
Prior to Mack's goal, the only two shots of second half came off the sticks of ESU players in the 42nd and 51st minutes, respectively.
Kutztown returns to Andre Reed Stadium on Wednesday, Sept. 28, hosting Mercyhurst in PSAC play at 7 p.m.
