GAFFNEY, S.C. – No. 3 and fourth-seeded Kutztown field hockey is set to take on top-ranked and the one seed, Shippensburg, in an NCAA Division semifinal round game on Friday, Nov. 22, at 2 p.m., from Saints Field at Limestone University in Gaffney, S.C.
 
The Golden Bears (15-5 overall) are two wins away from back-to-back national championships. They defeated the fifth seed and No. 6 Southern New Hampshire 2-1 in double overtime in the quarterfinals last Saturday, Nov. 16, at Andre Reed Stadium. Juliana Donato (Cedarville, N.J./Schalick) was the hero with a golden goal, game-winner on a penalty stroke in the second overtime period. Sierra Jester (Felton, Del./Lake Forest) netted her first goal of the season to put her team into a 1-1 tie after KU fell behind 1-0 in the first quarter.
 
It is the second straight appearance at NCAAs for Kutztown, winning the title in 2023. The home quarterfinal game was the first time in program history the Maroon and Gold hosted an NCAA game in back-to-back seasons. It is also the first time in 41 years KU has made the NCAA Tournament in back-to-back seasons. KU has now competed in the NCAA Tournament eight different seasons and is 7-6 all-time.
 
It is the third meeting between the Golden Bears and Raiders (19-1) this season with Ship coming out on top in both regular season games, 2-0 on Sept. 18 at KU, and 3-2 on Oct. 15, at Shippensburg.
 
The second semifinal features second-ranked and third-seeded East Stroudsburg against eighth-ranked and seventh-seeded Saint Anselm at 5 p.m.
 
Live stats and video will be provided through the NCAA and can be found linked at kubears.com.