National Rankings (9-26-17)
 
KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The freshly-ranked No. 5 Kutztown University field hockey team will put its new rank to the test this week, as it takes on the No. 8 Bloomsburg University Huskies on the road on Wednesday, Sept. 27. The game will take place at Steph Pettit Stadium at 4 p.m.
 
The Golden Bears were the biggest movers in this week's poll, jumping four spots to fifth in the Penn Monto / National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division II Coaches Poll on Tuesday. They went 2-0 last week at home and prepare for their next two games on the road.
 
KU enters the game with a 6-2 record through its first eight games of the season, looking to continue its two-game winning streak. The Golden Bears recorded two significant wins last week - over then-third-ranked West Chester University (2-1) along with Seton Hill University (3-0).
 
Kutztown is one of six teams sitting at 1-0 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) standings, while Wednesday will be Bloomsburg's first PSAC game of the season.
 
The Golden Bears are looking for some revenge after a 2-0 loss to Bloomsburg last season at Andre Reed Stadium, snapping a three-game winning streak for KU in the series. Bloomsburg heads into Wednesday with an overall record of 4-3. The Huskies fell to Mansfield University 1-0 in overtime in their last game.
 
Both teams bring top-five-ranked PSAC offenses into Wednesday. The Huskies rank fourth in the league at 3.4 goals-per game, followed closely by KU in fifth at 2.9. Defensively, however, Kutztown enters leading the PSAC with an outstanding .875 goals-against-average. Bloomsburg is allowing 1.71 per game.
 
Leading the Golden Bears with seven goals is Kyra Wozniak (Plains, Pa./James M. Coughlin). She scored two of the three goals against Seton Hill this past Saturday and was recently named the PSAC Athlete of the Week.
 
Tying Wozniak in points is freshman Trinity Ponton (Wyomissing, Pa./Wyomissing Area) with 14. Ponton currently has six goals and two assists.
 
Also near the top of the team in points are Courtney Konowal (Plymouth Meeting, Pa./Plymouth-Whitemarsh) and Mackenzie Fuhrman (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township). Konowal has three goals and two assists, while Fuhrman has one goal and leads the team in assists with six.
 
Senior goalkeeper Chardonnay Hope (New Castle, Del./William Penn) recorded a shutout against Seton Hill on Saturday, one of her PSAC-leading four shutouts this season. She ranks among the PSAC leaders, leading the league with a .875 goals-against-average and a save percentage of .811.
 
Junior Abby Sauder paces the Huskies with six goals. Also adding to the points are MacKenna Mahan and Brooke Zeiders. Mahan has contributed five goals and three assists, while Zeiders has three goals and two assists.
 
In goal for Bloomsburg is Dana Sheply. So far this season, she has a save percentage of .707 and has made 29 saves.
 
Following the game against Bloomsburg, KU will take on Slippery Rock in an away game on Saturday, Sept. 30. Game time is set for 12 p.m. at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.
 
 
Penn Monto/NFHCA Division II Coaches Poll – Sept. 26
1. East Stroudsburg (8-1)
2. Shippensburg (6-1)
3. LIU Post (6-0)
4. Saint Anselm (7-0)
5. Kutztown (6-2)
6. West Chester (5-2)
7. Pace (6-1)
8. Bloomsburg (4-3)
9. Limestone (7-0)
10. Lindenwood (5-0)