Press Releases - October 2004

The following are press releases for the Kutztown University Athletic Department, released during the time listed above.  For more information, contact the sports information office.  

October 26, 2004 

GOLDEN BEAR FIELD HOCKEY TO FACE BLOOMSBURG IN PSAC SEMIFINAL 

KUTZTOWN, PA – The Kutztown University field hockey team will face Bloomsburg University in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Semifinal on Tuesday at 2:30 PM at Bloomsburg’s Upper Campus Field. 

            Bloomsburg (17-3, 11-3 PSAC) is the #1 seed in the playoffs.  Kutztown (14-5, 9-5) is the #4 seed.  In Tuesday's other semifinal, Shippensburg, the number three seed, will visit second seeded Indiana (PA). The highest remaining seed will host the PSAC Championship game on Saturday or Sunday.   

            Ticket prices are $7 for adults and $2 for students and senior citizens. No passes will be accepted. 

            The post-season appearance is the first for Betty Wesner’s squad since the 1998 season, when it lost to Lock Haven, 3-2 in overtime of a PSAC semifinal. 

            The Golden Bears produced a dramatic turnaround this season to advance to the post-season.  After finishing 7-12 last year, including a 6-10 mark in the PSAC, the Golden Bears won their first seven games this season.  After a 1-0 win over Shippensburg on October 14 to run its record to 14-2, KU dropped its final three regular season contests, two in overtime, to finish 14-5.  The 14 wins this season are the third-most in school history. 

            Forward Lauren Blain (jr. Marietta/Donegal) leads Kutztown with 23 points on nine goals and five assists.  Forward Mandi Turner (so. Sumneytown/Upper Perkiomen) has six goals and three assists for 15 points, while midfielder Amanda Behney (jr. Lyons/Kutztown) has six goals and two assists for 14 points.   

            Midfielder Laura Belfatti (so. Hatfield/Lansdale Catholic) has scored three of her six goals off penalty strokes, while forward Lauren McCabe (jr. Shohola/Delaware Valley) has four goals and three assists to round out the scoring leaders.   

            All-America defender Erin Livingston (sr. Philadelphia/Archbishop Carroll) anchors a stingy defense that allowed opponents an average of just 7.9 shots per game and held opponents to five or fewer shots eight times.  Colleen Healey (jr. Toms River, NJ/Toms River North) also keys the defense.   

            Trista Hershey (jr. Fredericksburg/Tulpehocken) has played 1,218 minutes in goal, allowing 20 goals for a 1.15 goals-against average.  She has 99 saves.   

            Kutztown faced Bloomsburg twice this season, losing 2-1 in overtime at home, and falling 3-0 at BU on Saturday.  Bloomsburg has beaten Kutztown 29 straight times dating back to Sept. 25, 1982.  The Huskies are the two-time defending PSAC champions and have also won the last two national crowns.

October 18, 2004 

KU’s JULIE FOLSOM NAMED PSAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK 

KUTZTOWN, PA – Kutztown University’s Julie Folsom (fr. Wanaque, NJ/Lakeland Regional), of the women’s soccer team, has been named the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division Player of the week. 

            Folsom, a forward, scored three goals in Kutztown’s 2-0 week with wins against Millersville and Mansfield, part of the Golden Bears current seven-game winning streak.  She scored twice in the 4-1 win over Millersville, including the go-ahead goal, and added one goal in the 3-0 win defeating Mansfield.  

            Folsom leads Kutztown, and ranks in the top 10 in the PSAC, in goals (7) and points (16).  She has three game-winning goals this season.   

            Kutztown is 10-3-2 overall, and 5-2-1 in the PSAC East.  The Golden Bears will put their seven-game winning and nine-game unbeaten streaks on the line when they host East Stroudsburg on Wednesday at 1:00 PM.

October 18, 2004 

KU’s GREG MITCHELL NAMED PSAC EAST PLAYER OF THE WEEK 

KUTZTOWN, PA – Kutztown University’s Greg Mitchell (jr. Bethlehem/Bethlehem Catholic), of the football team, has been named the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division Defensive Player of the Week. 

            Mitchell, a 6-0 linebacker, had an outstanding individual performance, despite KU’s 44-25 loss to East Stroudsburg on Saturday.  He totaled six tackles and two tackles for loss, one of which was a sack for -7 yards.  He also registered a forced fumble and recovered another fumble.

            For the season, Mitchell has 55 tackles, including 38 solos.  He also has five tackles for loss, two sacks and two pass breakups. 

            Kutztown, 3-4 overall, 1-3 in the PSAC East, travels to Millersville on Saturday for a 1:50 PM contest. 

October 12, 2004 

KELTY EARNS PLAYER OF THE WEEK 

KUTZTOWN, PA – Kim Kelty (fr. Levittown/Neshaminy) of the Kutztown University women’s soccer team was selected as the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division Player of the week.   

            Kelty helped the Golden Bears to a 2-0 week with a pair of goals and an assist.  She scored the first goal in a 4-1 win over Bloomsburg, and also assisted on the game-winning goal.  She then scored the game-winner in a 2-1 win over Wheeling Jesuit.   

            For the season, Kelty has 12 points, tied for third on the team.  She has three goals and three assists. 

            The Golden Bears stand at 8-3-2 overall and 3-2-1 in the PSAC East.  The team is in the midst of a seven game unbeaten streak that includes six wins.   

            The team takes the field this week with a game at Millersville on Tuesday at 4:00 PM, and again on Saturday at Mansfield.  Start time for that contest is 3:00 PM.

October 1, 2004 

KU FIELD HOCKEY THIRD IN REGION

KUTZTOWN, PA – The Kutztown University field hockey team is ranked third in the initial NCAA Division II South Regional rankings of the season. 

            KU is 10-2 on the season, including a 6-2 mark in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC). The Golden Bears split a pair of matches last week, shutting out No. 7 East Stroudsburg and falling in double-overtime against second-ranked Bloomsburg. Since the rankings were released, the Golden Bears added a 6-2 win over Mansfield on Thursday. 

            Bloomsburg and Shippensburg, the only teams to beat KU this season, are ranked first and second in the South Region, respectively.  Kutztown is third, with Indiana (PA) and East Stroudsburg rounding out the top five.  UMass-Lowell, the only undefeated team in Division II, is the top ranked team in the North Region.   

            At season’s end, the NCAA field hockey committee will select the top three teams in each region for the NCAA Championship tournament. The No. 1 seed in each region will receive a first-round bye, while the No. 2 seed will play the No. 3 seed in each of the respective regions. Semifinals and final will be played on the campus of a participating institution. Championship participants will be selected Monday, November 1.            

            Kutztown takes the field again on Saturday, when the Golden Bears host Mercyhurst at noon.