National Poll
KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The eighth-ranked Kutztown University field hockey team will take on No. 2 East Stroudsburg University this Wednesday, Oct. 25, for a potential spot in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) playoffs. Game time is set for 7 p.m. at Andre Reed Stadium.
The Golden Bears could not have picked a better time to be playing their biggest game of the season. The team currently holds an overall record of 10-6 and 5-4 in the PSAC. The team will enter the contest after an impressive three-game winning streak, against all PSAC teams. In the games against both Mercyhurst University and Shippensburg University, KU recorded shutouts. The third win included a 2-1 win over Mansfield University.
Kutztown is coming off of its biggest win of the season, shutting down No. 1 Shippensburg over the weekend in a 3-0 win. KU hadn't recorded a win against the Raiders since 2008. The win put the Golden Bears in the discussion for league playoffs.
The team is competing in their last PSAC game of the season, against East Stroudsburg. The Warriors have consistently been tough competition for the Golden Bears. KU is looking to continue its momentum and is hoping to find yet another big win.
KU lost a close one against ESU earlier this year, falling 3-2. During the first half of the game, ESU outscored Kutztown 2-0. As the second half began, KU made a comeback to tie the game 2-2 early on. However, in the 57th minute, ESU's Sydney McCarthy scored the game winning goal.
Both teams rank in the top three for both goals allowed this season and goals-against-average. KU has 19 goals allowed this season, while ESU has 15. In addition, the Golden Bears have a 1.13 goals-against-average per game, while the Warriors have .94 per game.
Leading the Kutztown offense, is sophomore forward
Kyra Wozniak (Plains, Pa./James M. Coughlin). Wozniak has recorded 13 goals and one assist so far this season. One of her goals scored, was against ESU earlier this fall.
Contributing on the defensive side, are both
Morgan Aldinger (Pennsburg, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) and
Hadley Wiktor (Danville, Pa./Danville Area). Aldinger has five defensive saves, while Wiktor has four. Aldinger has also recorded three goals and six assists this season.
Chardonnay Hope (New Castle, Del./William Penn) has recorded five shutouts this season, two of which were in the past three games. She has a save percentage of .816 and has completed 80 total saves. Hope is coming off of her second-highest career saves in a game and her overall highest this season (14). Her career-high came last year against Millersville (19).
Leading East Stroudsburg in goals is Melanie Shambaugh with 10. Following closely behind is Bailey Quinn with nine. Also contributing on offense for ESU is McCarthy, who ranks second in the PSAC in assists (9). This season, McCarthy has recorded eight goals, two of which were recorded against KU earlier this season.
In goal for the Warriors is Halle Frisco, who has allowed just 13 goals and has a save percentage of .809. She ranks third in saves (55), just one spot below Hope in the conference leaderboard.
Following the game against East Stroudsburg, Kutztown will compete in its last regular season game against Limestone College. Game-time is set for 11 a.m. at Andre Reed Stadium. The game will also be Senior Day for eight members of the team.
