BLOOMSBURG, Pa. – For the third straight season, two of Division II field hockey's powerhouses will meet on the national stage. No. 1-ranked and No. 2-seeded Kutztown University and No. 2-ranked and No. 3-seeded Shippensburg will face off Friday at Steph Pettit Stadium in Bloomsburg, Pa., with a spot in Sunday's NCAA Championship Game on the line.

Kutztown (20–1) enters the semifinals riding the momentum of a historic season. The Golden Bears secured their program-record 20th victory last weekend with a 2–0 quarterfinal win over Assumption, pushing them past the 100-goal mark for the first time in school history. Under 2025 PSAC Coach of the Year Marci Scheuing, KU has become one of the nation's premier programs, advancing to the NCAA semifinals for the third consecutive year after winning the 2023 national championship and finishing as the 2024 national runner-up.

This season has been equally dominant on the individual level. KU swept all four PSAC major awards: Erin Gonzalez (East Earl, Pa./Garden Spot) (Athlete of the Year), Olivia Kirkpatrick (Annville, Pa./Palmyra) (Defensive Athlete of the Year), Tess Adolf (Lawrence, N.J./Lawrence) (Freshman of the Year), and Scheuing (Coach of the Year). Gonzalez leads the Golden Bears with 17 goals and seven assists, senior captain Grace Harrold (York, Pa./Central York) holds the team lead with 12 assists, and Adolf has tied the program record with 11 shutouts in her rookie season.

The Golden Bears' road to Bloomsburg included a 2–0 win over Shippensburg in the regular-season finale, though the Raiders answered with a 2–1 victory in the PSAC Championship Game at Andre Reed Stadium. Friday marks the teams' third meeting this year and their third straight NCAA semifinal showdown. KU claimed both previous national semifinal matchups, winning 2–1 in 2023 and 4–3 in 2024.

Shippensburg (18–3), tied for No. 2 in the NFHCA poll, brings one of the division's strongest postseason résumés, including five national championships since 2013. First-year head coach Rayell Wallace has led the Raiders to a 12–3 record against ranked opponents this fall, most recently a 3–0 quarterfinal win over Saint Anselm.

Statistically, the matchup showcases two elite programs, but one of the most explosive offenses Division II has seen this year belongs to Kutztown. The Golden Bears have eclipsed the 100-goal mark this fall, compared to Shippensburg's 61, while allowing just 12 goals all season to the Raiders' 15. KU is averaging a remarkable five goals per game and carries a slight edge in overall shot production (441–414), along with a substantial advantage in penalty corners (293–195).

The winner of Friday's matchup will advance to Sunday's NCAA Division II Championship Game, where No. 1 seed Newberry or No. 5 seed West Chester awaits.

Kutztown and Shippensburg take the field on Friday, November 21, at 2 p.m. at Steph Pettit Stadium—each looking to extend its remarkable season and earn a place in the national title match.