COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Following a historic season for the Golden Bears,
Erin Gonzalez (East Earl, Pa./Garden Spot),
Olivia Kirkpatrick (Annville, Pa./Palmyra),
Marissa Rice (Lancaster, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg),
Jessica Traynor (Pennsburg, Pa./Upper Perkiomen), and
Grace Harrold (York, Pa./Central York) were named National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) All-Americans, as announced Tuesday morning.
Kutztown is coming off a record-breaking 20–2 campaign that featured the most wins in a single season in program history, the longest winning streak (19 games), and new single-season program records for goals (101) and assists (67). The Golden Bears also led the nation in penalty corners with 304 (more than 13 per game) and allowed a Division II-low 15 goals all season.
KU's five All-America selections are its most since 2005, when five Golden Bears were also honored. Gonzalez, Kirkpatrick, Rice, and Traynor were named to the First Team, while Harrold earned Second Team honors. Gonzalez earned her second career All-America selection, while Harrold, Kirkpatrick, Rice and Traynor were each named All-Americans for the first time. Sophomores Kirkpatrick and Rice become the youngest All-Americans since 2017.
Together, the group combined for 53 goals, 34 assists, 140 points and 15 game-winning goals in 2025, while playing a pivotal role in a defensive unit that helped limit opponents to just 15 goals all season.
Senior captain Gonzalez started all 22 contests at forward for the Bears. She led KU with 17 goals, five game-winning goals and 42 points, while ranking second on the team with eight assists. Gonzalez finished the season ranked sixth nationally in goals per game (0.82) and seventh in points per game (2.00). She concludes her career with 47 goals, ranking seventh all-time at Kutztown, and her 17 goals this season rank 10th in program history for a single season. In addition to being named PSAC Athlete of the Year, Gonzalez earned First Team All-PSAC and NFHCA First Team All-Atlantic Region honors and was selected to the National Senior Team. She was a Second Team All-American in 2024 before earning First Team honors this season.
Sophomore defender Kirkpatrick started all 22 games in her first season at Kutztown after transferring from Liberty. She anchored a defense that allowed a Division II-low 15 goals all season. Kirkpatrick was named PSAC Defensive Athlete of the Year and earned NFHCA Defensive Player of the Week once and PSAC Athlete of the Week honors twice. She finished the season with seven goals, two game-winners, five assists and one defensive save. In addition to her All-America honor, Kirkpatrick was named First Team All-PSAC and First Team All-Atlantic Region.
Sophomore Rice started all 22 contests and finished second on the team in goals (14) and points (35). Rice earned First Team All-PSAC and First Team All-Atlantic Region honors before adding her first career All-America selection. With two seasons remaining, she is poised to be one of KU's top returners.
Junior captain Traynor started all 22 games in the midfield, totaling 10 goals and two assists while leading KU with five game-winning goals. She earned NFHCA Offensive Player of the Week and PSAC Athlete of the Week honors during the season, along with First Team All-PSAC and NFHCA First Team All-Atlantic Region recognition. With another year ahead, Traynor will be a critical returning piece for the Golden Bears in 2026.
Senior captain Harrold also started all 22 games and finished with a team-high 12 assists, ranking among the top 10 nationally in assists per game. Her 12 assists are tied for third in KU's single-season record book, while her 23 career assists rank tied for eighth all-time. Harrold, a National Senior Team selection, earned Second Team All-PSAC and Second Team All-Atlantic Region honors while adding five goals, 22 points and one game-winning goal.
With three straight NCAA Tournament appearances and a core group returning, the Golden Bears will be hungry for even more in 2026.
