KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Juliana Donato (Cedarville, N.J./Schalick) converted on both of her conversions and Mia Kepler (Wall Township, N.J./Wall) stopped all but one of IUP's as second-ranked Kutztown came out on top in a penalty shootout, 1-0, winning the shootout 2-1, Saturday night in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference game at Andre Reed Stadium.
 
It is the third consecutive game for the Golden Bears (8-1 overall, 2-0 PSAC) that has gone into at least overtime, and they have won all three.
 
Donato connected on KU's second shootout attempt and then after the teams ended the best-of-five stanza tied at 1-1, Donato started the next portion with another conversion to put her team on the brink. Kepler, who saved the first four Crimson Hawk (2-6, 1-2) attempts, followed the second Donato conversion with a stop to end the game and Kutztown could celebrate an exciting and exhausting victory in a game that took 2:23.
 
The Maroon and Gold came from behind down two goals to defeat third-ranked East Stroudsburg in their last game just four nights prior, so legs may have still been tired.
 
The two teams played 80 minutes of scoreless field hockey before the game was decided in the shootout.
 
Kepler finished with six saves. KU outshot IUP 16-11 overall and 10-7 on cage. The Golden Bears also held a 15-8 advantage in penalty corners.
 
After back-to-back home games to open up conference play, Kutztown will hit the road for its first PSAC away game as it takes on Bloomsburg next Wednesday, Oct. 9, at 4 p.m.

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