KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Senior Sarah Gatehouse (Sinking Spring, Pa./Wilson) recorded a goal and an assist and graduate student Breann Craley (York, Pa./Central York) netted a goal, with both tallies coming in the fourth quarter as fourth-ranked Kutztown field hockey broke a scoreless deadlock in the final 10 minutes to win its season and home opener 2-0 Thursday afternoon against New Haven in non-conference action at Andre Reed Stadium.
 
The Golden Bears (1-0 overall) were knocking on the door of a goal for the first 50 minutes of the contest, putting 13 shots on goal over that time frame, but Chargers (0-1) goalie, Hallie Reiger, kept coming up with a save each time to keep KU at bay.
 
But in the 51st minute, Kutztown finally broke through. Sophomore Erin Gonzalez (East Earl, Pa./Garden Spot) sent in a penalty corner right to the stick of Gatehouse, who took one touch and fired home the opening goal. The junior captain then was the first to receive another Gonzalez corner, 7:01 later, put passed it off to Craley, who ripped a shot that got past Reiger for the game's second and final goal.
 
Gatehouse, along with Alyssa Eager (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) and Danielle Panati (West Chester, Pa./Unionville) helped keep New Haven in check on its offensive end. The Chargers had just one shot and Mia Kepler (Wall Township, N.J./Wall) was not forced into action in her first collegiate start in the cage.
 
Kutztown will play in the Southern Connecticut State tournament this weekend, featuring four teams. KU will take on Saint Michael's on Saturday, Sept. 2, at 11 a.m., followed by a game with the host Owls on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. The Golden Bears return home for back-to-back games next weekend, the first being against Bentley on Friday, Sept. 8, at 3 p.m.

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