KUTZTOWN, Pa. -- Freshman Erin Gonzalez (East Earl, Pa./Garden Spot) did all of the scoring, netting two goals as No. 5 Kutztown field hockey took down Adelphi 2-1 Wednesday night in a non-conference game at Andre Reed Stadium.

The Golden Bears improved to 4-0 overall, their best start to a season since 2017, when they also began that year by winning their first four games.

Gonzalez, who is now tied for the team-lead in goals with Rachel Dusman (Chambersburg, Pa./Chambersburg) with four, got her stick on Dusman's initial shot and put it past Mirthe Karstens and into the Panthers (1-2) cage, 6:34 into the second quarter. She then finished a highlight-reel play that was started by a run down the touchline by Jillian Buchman (Drums, Pa./Hazleton), who then found a cutting Gonzalez in front of cage. The freshman then laid out and placed the ball in-between the legs of Karstens for a 2-0 lead just 1:41 into the third quarter.

The Kutztown defense had to hold on late in the game, preventing a potential game-tying goal after Adelphi earned a penalty corner with just 0:02 remaining, the second corner in the last minute of regulation. Katie Dotterweich (Douglassville, Pa./Daniel Boone), who finished with a season-high three saves, made two of those in the final minute to help secure her fourth victory starting in front of the cage this season. The back line of Alyssa Eager (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley), Sarah Gatehouse (Sinking Spring, Pa./Wilson) and Danielle Panati (West Chester, Pa./Unionville) were stout in front of Dotterweich for 60 minutes.

Kutztown, which played its first four games of 2022 at home, will now hit the road for five games in-a-row, beginning with its next game on Saturday, Sept. 17, at Coker University at 10 a.m. KU's next home game is set for Saturday, Oct. 8, at 6 p.m., against Mansfield. Read Full Article