GAFFNEY, S.C. – No. 3 and fourth-seeded Kutztown field hockey had its quest for two straight NCAA Division II championships end as No. 8 and seventh-seeded Saint Anselm netted the only goal of the game, an overtime, golden goal winner, to defeat KU 1-0 Sunday afternoon at Limestone University's Saints Field.
 
The Golden Bears finish their 2024 season at 16-6 overall, playing in their third NCAA title game. The Hawks (18-6) won their first championship, playing in their second final.
 
It was a low-scoring, defensive game as neither team could find the back of the cage through the 60 minute regulation. Then, 6:33 into the first overtime period, Saint Anselm earned three consecutive penalty corners, finally connecting on the third as leading scorer, Maddie Davis, finished the corner that she started with a pass in. Her shot that crossed the line came off a pass by Grace Michael and the Hawks celebrated history. They not only won their first NCAA championship, but got there by upsetting three higher-ranked teams in second-seeded Assumption, third-seeded East Stroudsburg and then fourth-seeded Kutztown. The Hawks took advantage of the first year of the expanded eight-team tournament.
 
The Maroon and Gold outshot the Hawks 6-4 overall, 5-3 on cage, and held a 6-5 edge in corners. Mia Kepler (Wall Township, N.J./Wall) finished with two saves.
 
The Kutztown program can keep its heads held high and proud in what has been the most successful two-year run in program history. A talented senior class in Sarah Gatehouse (Sinking Spring, Pa./Wilson), Juliana Donato (Cedarville, N.J./Schalick), Danielle Panati (West Chester, Pa./Unionville), Greenleigh McGehee (New Tripoli, Pa./Northwestern Lehigh), Megan Doyle (Hackettstown, N.J./Hackettstown), Mia Simpson (Wildwood, Mo./Lafayette) and Kepler graduates, but they certainly left their marks and set the standard for KU moving forward.
 
Scheuing will return plenty of talent next season, including national championship game starters in Erin Gonzalez (East Earl, Pa./Garden Spot), Grace Harrold (York, Pa./Central York), Marissa Rice (Lancaster, Pa./Lampeter Strasburg), Marlee Fetrow (Birdsboro, Pa./Daniel Boone) and Jessica Traynor (Pennsburg, Pa./Upper Perkiomen).

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