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KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The ninth-ranked Kutztown University field hockey team had its two leading goal scorers find the back of the net in a 3-0 win in its Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference opener under a sun-filled sky Saturday afternoon at Andre Reed Stadium.
 
The Golden Bears (6-2 overall, 1-0 PSAC) remain unbeaten at home, winning their fifth straight game at Andre Reed Stadium.
 
The victory on Saturday caps a successful week for KU as it took down third-ranked West Chester University 2-1 earlier in the week on Wednesday.
 
"I'm excited," said head coach Marci Scheuing. "It's always nice to start conference play with a win. Seton Hill has always been a good and aggressive team. I think our players did a good job of staying composed and doing what they had to do."
 
Sophomore Kyra Wozniak (Plains, Pa./James M. Coughlin) opened up the scoring less than ten minutes in off an assist by Courtney Konowal (Plymouth Meeting, Pa./Plymouth-Whitemarsh).
 
With less than a minute until halftime, Wozniak tallied her second of the game. Konowal had her shot blocked away by Griffins goalie Alexandra Piekarz, but Wozniak was there to follow in the rebound for her team-leading seventh goal of the season.
 
Not to be outdone, freshman Trinity Ponton (Wyomissing, Pa./Wyomissing Area), who entered the game tied with Wozniak for the team lead in goals, scored midway through the second half. She positioned herself in front of the cage and slotted home a pass from classmate Hannah Marx (Palmyra, Pa./Palmyra) for her sixth goal on the year.
 
Ponton has scored in three consecutive games and has tallied the most goals by a freshman since Anna Behm in her first year in 2012. Behm finished the year with eight.
 
"It's great that we have such young players stepping up and doing the scoring for us," said Scheuing. "A big reason why they're getting these goals and good opportunities is because of the midfield play. That group pushes the ball up the field and puts them into good situations to score. They're doing a great job at finishing at the net though."
 
Kutztown's defense did not allow many good looks on its cage, but when the Griffins threatened, senior goalie Chardonnay Hope (New Castle, Del./William Penn) was there to fend off any attack on her cage. Hope finished the game with eight saves and her fourth shutout on the year.
 
"Our defenders are on top of their game," Scheuing said. "They have a great chemistry back there. And, again, the midfielders do a great job of dropping back and helping the defense out. Chardonnay played another great game and its nice seeing her get the shutout."
 
Kutztown outshot Seton Hill 23-9, and were tied in penalty corners at 11 each.
 
KU next travels to Bloomsburg for its first conference road game Wednesday, Sept. 27 at 4 p.m.