KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Kutztown University field hockey has been on one of the more successful runs in program history over the last three seasons. KU is two seasons removed from a 15-win, 2019 season, which included a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference runner-up finish and a trip to the NCAA Division II Final Four.
 
Under nine-year head coach Marci Scheuing, the Golden Bears have qualified for three consecutive PSAC postseason tournaments. Before that run, the Maroon and Gold made the big dance once since 2010.
 
The 2022 program is well positioned to continue the winning trend and compete for its first ever PSAC and NCAA championship. Kutztown had six players exhaust eligibility or move on following the 2021 campaign, but there is a large number of experienced returners back to lead the way.
 
"I am very excited to start the regular season for this group in 2022," said Scheuing. "We return 18 student-athletes, including eight of our starters from last season. We also added a very talented group of 12 newcomers. Our three captains: Olivia Blasone (East Berlin, Pa./Bermudian Springs), Rachel Dusman (Chambersburg, Pa./Chambersburg) and Katie Dotterweich (Douglassville, Pa./Daniel Boone) (Madera), have shown outstanding leadership, which I believe will help this team move to a whole new level of play."
 
Dusman earned National Field Hockey Coaches Association Second Team All-America and All-PSAC Second Team honors last season as a midfielder and Dotterweich was an All-PSAC Third Team goalie in 2021. Blasone has been a regular in the lineup the last two seasons, playing in all 40 games. They lead a talented and experienced group that Scheuing is excited to be coaching.
 
"Right now, I am excited about the work rate, speed, and accountability of this group," Scheuing said. "They have set some very high goals for this season and hold themselves to a very high standard."
 
Once again, the strength of schedule is high for the Golden Bears. They are ranked fifth in the country according to the NFHCA. Defending national champion Shippensburg is the preseason No. 1 team. West Chester was second, followed by East Stroudsburg, while Assumption and KU rounded out the top five. The PSAC has five of the top seven teams with Millersville ranked No. 7.
 
"Our schedule is always very strong," said Scheuing. "We play in the toughest conference, top to bottom, in Division II. The great thing about playing in the PSAC is that we know we have to be at the top of our game for every opponent, so that is how we train."
 
Returning starters from last season's team include Jillian Buchman (Drums, Pa./Hazleton), Breann Craley (York, Pa./Central York), Juliana Donato (Cedarville, N.J./Schalick), Abby Thorius (Strasburg, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg) and Sarah Gatehouse (Sinking Spring, Pa./Wilson). Dusman, Blasone, Craley, Donato and Thorius , along with Andie Sierer (Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin), who played in 17 games last season, make up an experienced and talented midfield that Scheuing feels is a strength of the team.
 
"This is our most experienced area," said Scheuing. "We return all five of our starting midfielders this fall and are very excited about the experience this area has. We are also happy about the depth in this area. We really feel like our connections in our midfield will take us very far this year."
 
Defensively, both Alyssa Eager (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) and Danielle Panati (West Chester, Pa./Unionville) played in double-digit games and will help lead the defense.
 
Aside from a strong group of upperclassmen, the Golden Bears have a large freshmen class that Scheuing feels will bring an immediate impact to the lineup this season.
 
"We are very balanced this year," Scheuing said. "We have very strong players in all of our classes from graduate students to first-year players. This helps our program stay competitive each year and helps us not have to worry about rebuilding, we just reload."
 
Kutztown opens its 2022 regular season with four consecutive home games. KU will be hosting a four-team tournament and will open with Saint Michael's on Saturday, Sept. 3, at 11 a.m., at Andre Reed Stadium. The Maroon and Gold will then play Southern Connecticut State the following day at 1:30 p.m.