KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The 2024 season for Kutztown field hockey is just around the corner and it is one of the most anticipated seasons in recent memory. For the first time in program history, KU will be looking to defend its title and repeat as national champions, entering the season as the top-ranked team in Division II.
 
Last November, the Golden Bears won the NCAA Division II national championship, bringing home KU's first team national title. Head coach Marci Scheuing, who led the Maroon and Gold to their best season in program history in 2023, finishing 19-3 overall (program record for wins in a season) and 7-2 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, will have a great opportunity to repeat as the 2024 squad brings back a majority of the top contributors from a year ago.
 
"We are very excited that we return eight starters from last year's national championship team," said Scheuing. "We have put so much time and effort into building our team's culture and chemistry and we are ready to get this season started. Our team's phrase this season is going to be 'Humble and Hungry.' We are taking one game at a time and are going to work as hard as we can to achieve all of our team's goals this season."
 
Kutztown tied a program best with six representatives named All-PSAC last season, five of whom return in Juliana Donato (Cedarville, N.J./Schalick), Sarah Gatehouse (Sinking Spring, Pa./Wilson), Erin Gonzalez (East Earl, Pa./Garden Spot), Grace Harrold (York, Pa./Central York) and Danielle Panati (West Chester, Pa./Unionville). Gatehouse earned KU's first ever PSAC Defensive Athlete of the Year honor, joining Donato as NFHCA First Team All-Americans. The senior was also the PSAC's Champion Scholar and the NCAA's Elite 90 award winner for her work in the classroom. Graduate student goalie Mia Kepler (Wall Township, N.J./Wall) started all 22 games last season and helped lead KU to a program-record 14 shutouts.
 
"We have a very deep roster this season," Scheuing said. "Each line (forwards, midfielders, defense and our goalies) has experience and serious talent. We are excited to return two All-Americans, five All-Conference players, and three players who were named to the All-NCAA Tournament team last fall. We have three new Division I transfers who bring experience and depth to our lineup that we are excited about. We also added six freshmen who are college ready. The core of our returners are ready to lead us throughout this season."
 
The title defense for KU begins on Thursday, Sept. 5, with a home game against Saint Anselm at 3 p.m., from Andre Reed Stadium. Two days later the Golden Bears play in the two-day Saint Michael's Tournament in Colchester, Vt., with a game against the host Purple Knights Saturday at 11 a.m., followed by a match with Southern Connecticut State on Sunday at 1 p.m.