MANSFIELD, Pa. – The top-ranked Kutztown University field hockey team kept its red-hot start rolling with a dominant 8-0 shutout win over Southern Connecticut State on Saturday afternoon at the Mansfield Fall Classic.
 
It marked the Golden Bears' (2-0 overall) second straight game scoring eight or more goals, following a 9-2 victory over No. 8 Southern New Hampshire in Thursday's season opener, and the team's first shutout of the season.
 
After a quiet start, Kutztown broke through late in the first quarter and quickly piled on. The Golden Bears netted three goals in a short span to grab control.
 
Ellie Myers (Denver, Pa./Cocalico) opened the scoring off a long pass into the circle by Rachel Galasso (Sweet Valley, Pa./Lake Lehman) at the 8:30 mark of the opening quarter, and just 40 seconds later, Sierra Jester (Felton, Del./Lake Forest) redirected a shot into the cage. Moments after, Kutztown converted on a penalty corner, with Marlee Fetrow (Birdsboro, Pa./Daniel Boone) blasting home a rocket from the top off a feed from Grace Harrold (York, Pa./Central York) to make it 3-0 heading into the second.
 
The offense didn't slow down in the second quarter. At 3:15 mark, Jessica Traynor (Pennsburg, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) scored off a cross-field pass from her sister Julia Traynor (Pennsburg, Pa./Upper Perkiomen). Less than a minute later, Traynor returned the favor, assisting Fetrow on her second goal of the game as the Bears pushed the margin to 5-0 at halftime.
 
Senior Erin Gonzalez (East Earl, Pa./Garden Spot) opened the third-quarter scoring before freshman Kaylee Zellers (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) added her first collegiate goal after a pass by Marissa Rice (Lancaster, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg). Fellow freshman Bree Zocollo capped the scoring flurry in the fourth with another assist by Harrold, sealing Kutztown's commanding 8-0 victory.
 
Kutztown controlled play from start to finish, generating 22 shots and 18 corners, while holding the Owls to zero attempts and keeping them scoreless for 60 minutes.
 
The Golden Bears continue play at the Mansfield Fall Classic on Sunday, Sept. 7, taking on Saint Michael's at 11 a.m.

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