KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The Kutztown University field hockey senior class of eight had never beaten Millersville University to date. But that changed, and in dramatic fashion. Seniors Molly Bobjak (New Castle, Del./Padua Academy) and Kyra Wozniak (Plains, Pa./James M. Coughlin) were successful during the penalty shootout, and senior goalie Kerri Hanshaw (Collegeville, Pa./Perkiomen Valley) came up big all night in front of cage to help deliver seventh-ranked Kutztown to a 1-0 victory (2-1 penalty shootout) over third-ranked Millersville Thursday night at Andre Reed Stadium in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference game.
 
It was the first victory for the Golden Bears (9-4 overall, 4-2 PSAC) over the Marauders (10-3, 2-3) since Oct. 8, 2011, and the first penalty shootout win for KU since Oct. 30, 2010.
 
It all happened after 80 minutes of play and a 1-1 score in the shootout with the clinching shooters up. Bobjak stepped up and delivered. Hanshaw followed suit to preserve the victory.
 
"I knew it was a big moment and that I had to come out on top because it could be the game-winner," said Bobjak. "I did it for my team, my coaches and my friends. I just dribbled up, did a little half-spin and then scored."
 
Added Hanshaw:
 
"Coming into this game, all four years for us we've never beaten Millersville," said Hanshaw. "So we wanted to come out and prove to them and everyone that we could beat them. We want to be a top team and set the bar high so this win was big."
 
The game did not want to be decided after 60 minutes of regulation, and then not even after two, 10-minute overtimes of 7-on-7 play.
 
Millersville looked to be the aggressor most of the contest, holding a 17-9 advantage in shots, but only 5-2 being on goal. One of the best chances of the game came at the stick of Alyssa Donato (Cedarville, N.J./Cumberland Regional) off of a penalty corner in the 51st minute in the fourth quarter as her rocket shot destined to find the back of the cage was saved by Autumn Peters.
 
Hanshaw also made a couple of important saves on her end with less than four minutes to go in regulation.
 
In the first overtime, the teams combined for zero shots as they both tried to figure out strategies with the more open space. The duo of Wozniak and Rachel Dusman (Chambersburg, Pa./Chambersburg) gave the Maroon and Gold several scoring chances in the second overtime, but still, neither team could break through. Onto penalty strokes to decide.
 
Wozniak stepped right up as the first shooter and scored. Hanshaw then stopped the next three Marauders attempts. Millersville's Emma Boutcher then finally beat Hanshaw on the fourth attempt to bring up Bobjak. The New Castle, Del. native calmly slotted home what proved to be the game-winner. But Hanshaw first had to make the final save.
 
Kutztown then rushed the field in excitement of an important PSAC victory.
 
Kutztown remains at home for its next game, next Tuesday, Oct. 22, at 3 p.m. against Mansfield.