KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Time was not on their side, and they needed to respond fast. Trailing 1-0 heading into the fourth quarter, the fourth-ranked Kutztown University field hockey team rallied for three goals in the final 15-minute frame, two from junior Alyssa Donato (Cedarville, N.J./Cumberland Regional), as KU came back to defeat 10th-ranked Mansfield 3-1 Wednesday evening in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference game, on a nice, Fall night at Andre Reed Stadium.
 
The Golden Bears (10-4 overall, 5-2 PSAC) have now beaten their second-consecutive nationally-ranked opponent after taking down then-No. 3 Millersville last Thursday, Oct. 17. KU came in at fourth nationally and also fourth in the first NCAA Atlantic Regional poll, released Wednesday. So tonight's game was an important one.
 
"This is a really big win for us," said Donato. "Mansfield is a really good team and we knew we needed to win this one for a chance at winning PSACs and making it to NCAAs. Those have been our goals all season and this win just puts us one step closer to where we want to be."
 
Following a scoreless first half that saw Kutztown outshoot Mansfield 5-2 and hold a 7-2 advantage in penalty corners, it was the Mounties (10-4, 4-3) that broke through for the game's opening goal. A whistle inside Kutztown's defensive zone led to a Mansfield penalty stroke, successfully taken by Dana Evans in the 37th minute and a 1-0 lead.
 
Head coach Marci Scheuing had to rally her troops in the huddle before the final quarter, needing and hoping to provide a spark.
 
Mission accomplished.
 
Donato received the ball took a couple of dribbles and shot into the lower right corner of the cage to beat the Mounties goalie to even up the score. Following a penalty corner, the Maroon and Gold were then also rewarded a penalty stroke. Donato stepped up and converted for her second goal of the game and seventh of the season with 8:26 left in the contest.
 
"Obviously being down was not what we wanted to happen," Donato said. "But that might've been the best thing that could've happened to us because it sparked a fire in us and we knew there was a lot riding on this game so we had to step up, and we did."
 
Mackenzie Fuhrman (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township) added some insurance with her fifth goal this year off a pass by Molly Bobjak (New Castle, Del./Padua Academy) with just 0:35 left.
 
PSAC Defensive Athlete of the Week, senior goalie Kerri Hanshaw (Collegeville, Pa./Perkiomen Valley) finished with three saves to earn the win.
 
Kutztown will next take on Mercyhurst this Saturday, Oct. 26, at 11 a.m.