MANSFIELD, Pa. – The No. 2-ranked Kutztown University field hockey team extended its unbeaten start to the season with a 3-2 victory over Mansfield Saturday afternoon, earning its first Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) win of the year and eighth straight overall.
Despite the close score, the Golden Bears (8-0, 1-0 PSAC) dictated play for much of the contest, keeping the ball in their attacking half and generating consistent pressure. Mansfield (3-5, 0-1 PSAC) struck first, though, converting a penalty stroke midway through the second quarter.
Kutztown responded before halftime with a perfectly executed corner.
Grace Harrold (York, Pa./Central York), serving as the insert, played the ball to
Olivia Kirkpatrick (Annville, Pa./Palmyra) at the top of the circle. Kirkpatrick quickly slipped it to
Marissa Rice (Lancaster, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg), who returned it across to Harrold for the equalizer.
The match remained deadlocked until the fourth quarter, when both teams found the cage again. Rice gave KU its first lead just six minutes into the frame, weaving through two defenders before blasting a shot from the top of the circle. Mansfield answered less than four minutes later off one of its six corners, tying the game at 2-2.
With just over five minutes left, the Bears delivered the decisive blow. On a corner opportunity,
Jessica Traynor (Pennsburg, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) pounced on a rebound and lifted a backhanded shot into the net to secure the 3-2 victory.
Kutztown's dominance showed in the box score, as the Bears outshot Mansfield 23-10 and held a 12-6 edge in corners. Freshman goalkeeper
Tess Adolf (Lawrence, N.J./Lawrence) matched her season high with four saves to backstop the win.
The Golden Bears return to action Sunday, Sept. 27, traveling to Roberts Wesleyan for a noon non-conference matchup.
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