Kutztown University

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.

November 1, 2006

BRANDON EARNS PSAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS

KUTZTOWN, PA - Kutztown University volleyball player Sarah Brandon (sr. Gibsonia/Pine-Richland) was named Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division Player of the Week.

Brandon led the Golden Bears to a 2-0 week. The opposite hitter recorded a season high 28 kills in a PSAC East title clinching victory over East Stroudsburg last Wednesday. She followed that up with a 14 kill performance in a victory over Philadelphia on Thursday. For the week, Brandon tallied 42 kills, nine digs and six blocks.

On the season, Brandon has played in 96 games and leads the team in kills with 415. She has also contributed 113 digs and 125 blocks.

The Golden Bears finished the regular season with a 23-6, 9-1 PSAC East record and were crowned Eastern Division champions. Next, they travel to Lock Haven to take part in the PSAC Championships and will take on either California (PA) or West Chester on Friday at 5:00 PM.

October 31, 2006

SMITH EARNS PSAC EASTERN DIVISION DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS

KUTZTOWN, PA – Kutztown University football player Scott Smith (jr. New Oxford/DeLone Catholic) has been named the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division Defensive Player of the Week.

Against Cheyney, the defensive tackle led a Golden Bear defense that only surrendered six points, its lowest since the 2003 season. They yielded 179 total yards of offense, 90 rushing and 89 passing. Smith accounted for 10 tackles, two of which were for loss and was credited with half a sack.

On the season, Smith has played in seven games in which he has tallied 31 tackles, 10 solo tackles, four tackles for loss and half a sack.

This Saturday, in a PSAC Crossover battle, Kutztown will travel to face Lock Haven.

October 26, 2006

KU CROSS COUNTRY TEAMS TO COMPETE AT PSAC CHAMPIONSHIP

KUTZTOWN, PA – The Kutztown University men and women’s cross country teams will travel to Bloomsburg for the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championships on Saturday, October 28.

According to the most recent U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Division II cross country rankings, Kutztown’s women are ranked 11th, their highest ranking for the program on record, as well as the highest current ranking among PSAC teams. KU’s men are unranked.

The women have finished in the top 10 in four of five events this season, including a first place finish at the Maroon & Gold Invitational and a second at the season-opening Lehigh Valley Championships. Their only finish outside of the top 10 was a 20th place finish at the Paul Short Invitational, against mostly Division I competition. Stephanie Williams (jr. Harrisburg/Riverside) has been KU’s front-runner in all five events this season. She has three top-five finishes including a second at the season opening Lehigh Valley Championships and a first-place finish at the Maroon & Gold Invitational at her home course the following week. She has beaten her career best time in the 6,000-meter race three times this year, including her best time of 20:59.7 at the Lafayette Invitational.

Keeping pace with Williams have been teammates Cheryl Dingman (so. Lansdale/North Penn) and Joanna Horstmann (so. Downingtown/Downingtown West). They placed sixth and third at the Lehigh Valley Championships and sixth and third at the Maroon & Gold Invitational, respectively. Dingman has placed in the top 20 in three meets with her best time being 21:33.3 at the Lafayette Invitational. Horstmann finished sixth in last year’s PSAC Championships to earn All-PSAC honors. This season, she has placed in the top five in two meets and placed 21st at another with her best time of 21:44.8 coming at the Lafayette Invitational. Senior Desiree Bower (Bethel/Tulpehocken) has one top-10 finish, a 14th place finish and a 25th place finish with her best time of 22:00.8 coming at Lafayette. Senior Chelsea Thomas’ (Sellersville/Pennridge) best time of 22:02.9 also came at the Lafayette Invitational. In addition, her season best finish is 11th, to go along with 16th and 26th place finishes.

Freshmen Maureen Watson (Walnutport/Allentown Central Catholic) and Jolene Collins (Palmyra/Palmyra) round out KU’s top seven.

The Golden Bears, under head coach Ray Hoffman, are among the top contenders for this year’s championship after finishing third at last year’s meet.

The Kutztown men have four top-10 finishes in five events this year including a runner-up finish at both the Lehigh Valley Championships and the Maroon & Gold Invitational in addition to a fourth at the Paul Short Invitational and a ninth place showing at the Lafayette Invitational. This year’s best overall time came courtesy of junior Patrick Bone (Pipersville/Central Bucks West) with his time of 26:16 at the Paul Short Open. In addition, Bone has two top-10 finishes including his runner-up finish at the Maroon & Gold Invitational. Senior Joe Haughey (Richboro/Council Rock) has three top-20 finishes to go along with a 38th place finish. At the Paul Short Open, he ran his best time of 26:36. Senior Dan Wilde (New Cumberland/Cedar Cliff) has a season best tie for ninth along with an 11th place finish at the season opener. His best time of 26:41 came at that season opening event, the Lehigh Valley Championships.

Patrick Coyne (sr. Philadelphia/Archbishop Ryan), Pat McKeever (jr. Midland Park, NJ/Midland Park), John Pyne (so. Harrisburg/Bishop McDevitt) and Tony Skiles (so. West Reading/Wyomissing) round out KU’s top seven.

The men will look to improve upon last year’s 10th place finish at the PSAC meet.

The men’s 8k race will begin at 10 a.m. with the women’s 6k race beginning at 11 a.m. The races will take place outside of the Nelson Field House with the race beginning and ending on the soccer field.

October 26, 2006

SPOTTS HONORED AS A NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK

KUTZTOWN, PA – Kutztown University quarterback Kyle Spotts (jr. Tamaqua/Tamaqua) was one of four players who earned Don Hansen’s National Weekly Football Gazette’s NCAA Division II National Offensive Player of the Week honors.

SPOTTS

Spotts was previously named the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division Offensive Player of the Week for his performance in last Saturday’s contest against West Chester. He shared the Football Gazette award with Cole Barthel (Arkansas Tech), Justin Matherson (Fort Lewis) and Brandon Toles (Southern Connecticut St.)

In that last second 49-47 loss against visiting West Chester, the junior signal caller was 29 of 40 passing for a career best 345 yards and five touchdowns, four passing and one rushing. He spread the ball around to five different receivers, including four different receivers for touchdowns. Besides passing, Spotts also rushed for 43 yards. On the day, he accounted for 388 of the team’s 502 yards of total offense.

On the season, Spotts has completed 119 of 208 pass attempts. He has accumulated 1,669 yards to go along with 17 touchdowns and seven interceptions. On the ground, Spotts has rushed for 82 yards on 45 attempts, scoring three touchdowns.

This Saturday, Kutztown will take its 2-5, 1-3 PSAC East record on the road as they travel to take on Cheyney in a PSAC East contest.

October 26, 2006

KU WOMEN’S SOCCER HEADED TO WEST CHESTER FOR PSAC SEMIFINAL

KUTZTOWN, PA – The Kutztown University women’s soccer team will travel to West Chester on Friday, Oct. 27, for the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) semifinal. The match will begin at 1:00 PM at West Chester’s South Campus soccer field.

Kutztown advanced to the PSAC Semifinal with a 1-0 win over Shippensburg in Tuesday’s quarterfinal. Cheyenne Brunner (so. Sunbury/Shikellamy) scored the only goal of the contest to lift the Golden Bears to the victory.

The Golden Bears make their third-straight appearance in the PSAC semifinals. Kutztown defeated West Chester last year, 1-0, to advance to the PSAC Finals.

Kutztown is led by Kim Kelty (jr. Levittown/Neshaminy) has five goals and four assists. Angela Corrado (fr. Kutztown/Kutztown) also has five goals. Brunner has four goals, including the game winner against Shippensburg on the PSAC Quarterfinal.

West Chester (18-0, 12-0 PSAC East) is ranked #2 in the country in the latest NSCAA poll. The Golden Rams are led by Julie Karcher, who has 16 goals and seven assists. The Rams have allowed just six goals all season.

West Chester won both regular-season meetings between the teams, winning 5-0 at WCU on Sept. 19 and taking a 4-0 decision at KU on Oct. 17. WCU’s Karcher scored three goals against KU this season. Lauren Ginnona and Danielle Gerz each scored a pair. Brittany Yetter had four assists.

Tickets for Friday’s semifinal are $7 for adults, $2 for students and free for students with ID from PSAC institutions.

The winner will advance to the PSAC Championship game. The game will be held at the winner of the Slippery Rock/Indiana (PA) semifinal on Sunday, Oct. 29.

October 24, 2006

SPOTTS RECEIVES OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS

KUTZTOWN, PA – Kutztown University quarterback Kyle Spotts (jr. Tamaqua/Tamaqua) has been named Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division Offensive Player of the Week.

In a last second 49-47 loss against visiting West Chester, the junior signal caller was 29 of 40 passing for a career best 345 yards and five touchdowns, four passing and one rushing. He spread the ball around to five different receivers, including four different receivers for touchdowns. Besides passing, Spotts also rushed for 43 yards. On the day, he accounted for 388 of the team’s 502 yards of total offense.

This Saturday, Kutztown will take its 2-5, 1-3 PSAC East record on the road as they travel to take on Cheyney in a PSAC East contest.

October 24, 2006

KINNEY NAMED EASTERN DIVISION PLAYER OF THE WEEK

KUTZTOWN, PA – Kutztown University volleyball player Austin Kinney (so. Landisville/Hempfield) was named the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division Player of the Week.

During a pair of 3-0 victories, over PSAC East foes Shippensburg and West Chester, Kinney tallied 72 total assists, 36 in both matches. She also had 27 total digs to go along with three blocks. For the week, Kinney averaged 12 assists and 4.5 digs per game.

For the season, Kinney leads the Golden Bears with 828 assists, an average of 10.2 per game. In addition, she has 295 digs and 44 service aces.

On the season, the Golden Bears are 21-6, 8-1 PSAC East and will host East Stroudsburg this Wednesday night in a PSAC East contest to determine the winner of the PSAC East division.

October 23, 2006

KUTZTOWN TO HOST SHIPPENSBURG IN PSAC WOMEN'S SOCCER QUARTERFINAL

KUTZTOWN, PA – The Kutztown University women’s soccer team will face Shippensburg University in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) quarterfinal on Tuesday at 1:00 PM at Keystone Field.

Kutztown (9-7-3, 7-3-2 PSAC East) is the #2 seed while Shippensburg (9-8-2, 6-4-2 PSAC East) is the #3 seed.

This is the fourth consecutive appearance for the Golden Bears in the PSAC playoffs. In 2003, KU lost to Lock Haven in the quarterfinals, 3-0. In 2004, the Golden Bears won the division and had a bye in the quarterfinals. KU defeated Bloomsburg in the semifinals (4-3) and then lost to Indiana (PA) in the finals (3-2). Last season, Kutztown defeated East Stroudsburg in the quarterfinals (3-0), West Chester in the semifinals (1-0) before losing to Slippery Rock (1-0) in the championship game.

Leading the Golden Bears this season is Kim Kelty (jr. Levittown/Neshaminy) and Angela Corrado (fr. Kutztown/Kutztown). Kelty has notched five goals and four assists for 14 points while starting in 18 games this season. Corrado had also scored five goals, three being game winners, and one assist for 11 points in 18 contests. Raven Chiara (fr. Jamesburg, NJ/Monroe Twp.) has three goals, two game winners, and two assists for eight points. Cheyenne Brunner (so. Sunbury/Shikellamy) (three goals, one assist) and Julie Folsom (so. Wanaque, NJ/Lakeland) (two goals and three assists) both have seven points.

Shelby Varone (sr. Bernville/Tulpehocken) has led the defense for the Golden Bears this season. She has two assists while starting in all 19 games this season. Becky Worley (jr. Downingtown/Downingtown West) has also been solid at defense, also starting in all 19 contests.

Goalkeeper Nicole Rodweller (sr. Easton/Easton) has a goals-against average of 1.24 this season while playing 1,744 minutes in net. She has allowed 24 goals, recorded 106 saves and has five shutouts.

Kutztown won the two meetings during the regular season between the two teams. Kutztown won the first meeting at Shippensburg, 3-0. Corrado, Kelty and Brunner scored in the contest. The Golden Bears slipped out with a 3-2 win in the second meeting. Brunner, Folsom and Corrado had the goals for KU.

Shippensburg is let by Gayle Kuntzmann with 12 goals and six assists for 30 points this season. Kristen McGoldrick has notched seven goals and four assists for 18 points while Rachael Jeffrey has four goals and three assists for 11 points. Beth Long has a 1.38 goals-against average while playing 1,570 minutes in net. She has 124 saves while letting in 24 goals and recording six shutouts.

The winner advances to the PSAC semifinals at West Chester, on Friday, October 27. The PSAC Championship game will be in the western division on Sunday, October 29.

Tickets for the game on Tuesday will be available at the gate. Tickets are $7 for adults, $2 for students and free for any students from a PSAC school, with ID.

October 18, 2006

BRANDON RECEIVES PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONOR

KUTZTOWN, PA – Volleyball player Sarah Brandon (Sr. Gibsonia/Pine-Richland) was named the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division Player of the Week.

During a 2-2 week, Brandon tallied 75 kills and 20 blocks. She led the team with 18 kills and eight blocks in a 3-0 PSAC East victory over Millersville. Against Slippery Rock, Brandon totaled 17 kills and 4 blocks and in back-to-back matches against Indiana (PA) and California (PA), she notched 16 and 24 kills, respectively.

Since then, Brandon and the Golden Bears defeated Shippensburg 3-0 in a PSAC East contest, which clinched a playoff berth. Brandon led the attack with 18 kills and four blocks bringing her season totals to 359 kills and 114 blocks.

On the season, the Golden Bears are 20-6, 7-1 PSAC East and will host West Chester this Saturday in a PSAC East contest.

October 12, 2006

KUTZTOWN UNIVERSITY WOMEN'S SOCCER AND FIELD HOCKEY TEAMS
REGIONALLY RANKED

KUTZTOWN, PA – The Kutztown University (KU) women’s soccer and field hockey teams have both been included in the first NCAA regional rankings of the season released October 11. The NCAA Division II Women’s Soccer committee has ranked KU eighth and the Field Hockey Committee has ranked the Golden Bears’ squad fifth.

The NCAA Division II women’s soccer championship will be a 32-team, single elimination tournament with four teams from each region being selected.

The soccer team currently has an overall record of 7-5-3. They are coming off of a hard fought double-overtime tie with Mansfield on Saturday. The Golden Bears’ upcoming schedule includes two huge matches at home against New Haven and West Chester. West Chester is ranked first overall and New Haven is one spot ahead of KU in a three-way tie for fifth. The women have won four of their last six matches.

The field hockey team is two spots out of the third and final playoff position in the south region. The team is toting an overall record of 10-6, with an in-region 7-5 record. Coming off of back-to-back road victories, the Golden Bears will now concentrate on its next four matches, all of which are against the four teams ahead of them in the rankings. They will take on Bloomsburg, Indiana (PA), Shippensburg and East Stroudsburg, ranked 1-4 in that order. Three of those four games are at home.

October 12, 2006

KUTZTOWN UNIVERSITY WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY TEAM RANKED 12TH

KUTZTOWN, PA – In the latest US Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Division II Women’s National Poll, released October 10, the Kutztown University (KU) Women Cross Country team is ranked 12^th. This 12^th place ranking is the highest on record for the program.

After being ranked 13^th in the preseason poll, the team has been ranked either 13^th or 14^th before this latest improvement.

Other ranked teams from the PSAC include Indiana (PA) at seventh, Edinboro at 20^th and Slippery Rock and Bloomsburg who are tied for the 25^th and final position.

The women have won the Kutztown Invitational and placed second at the season-opening Lehigh Valley Championships. In their last meet, the Paul Short Invitational held September 29, the KU women ran to a 20^th place finish against mostly Division I opponents.

Looking ahead, the Golden Bears will compete this Saturday at the Lafayette Invitational, at the East Stroudsburg Invitational October 21, before heading to the PSAC Championships at Bloomsburg University on October 28.

October 10, 2006

KUTZTOWN UNIVERSITY WOMEN'S GOLF TEAM HEAD TO PSAC CHAMPIONSHPS

KUTZTOWN, PA - The Kutztown University women’s golf team will be traveling to Wrendale golf course in Hummelstown, PA to participate in the PSAC Championships. The event will begin on Saturday, October 14 and conclude on Sunday the 15th.

The Golden Bears will be one of eight teams competing and one of three women’s teams. The other two women’s teams are West Chester and California (PA).

In last year’s PSAC Championships, KU finished eighth out of eight teams. The team had scores of 354 and 337, with a two day total of 691.

The team has three top-10 finishes this season through four events including a runner-up finish at the KU Invitational and a third at last week’s California Invitational. Through seven rounds, the golden bears have a team stroke average of 353.4.

Angela Petak (jr. Brockway/Brockway) was the runner-up at the KU Invitational and tied for sixth at the California Invitational. She leads the team with an 87.9 stroke average and is the only player on the team to break 80 with her season opening round of 78.

Bethany Adams (so. Allentown/Parkland) has the second lowest stroke average on the team at 88.1. She has played in all seven rounds and has two top-10 finishes including a fifth place showing at the season opening KU Fall Invitational. In that same event, she shot her year-to-date best round of 83.

Tristin Suzenski (sr. Pottstown/St. Pius X) opened the season with a round of 86 and finished ninth, both season bests for her. She has participated in all seven rounds and her 89.5 stroke average ranks her third on the team.

Holly Shubilla (sr. Wilkes-Barre/GAR) has her stroke average under 90 at 89.9. She has two top-20 finishes including her season best tie for 13th at the KU Invitational. Her season has been consistent with all seven rounds between 87 and 93.

Lauren Foulke (so. Kempton/Kutztown) has compiled a 92.6 stroke average through seven rounds thus far. She has two top-25 finishes with her best finish coming at the KU Invitational where she tied for 13th. With most of her seven rounds in the 90s, she shot her best round of 84 at last week’s California Invitational.

October 6, 2006

KUTZTOWN UNIVERSITY’S TENNIS TEAMS READY FOR PSAC INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

KUTZTOWN, PA – Five Kutztown University (KU) men’s and four KU women’s tennis players will be taking part in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Individual Championships. The event will get under way Saturday, October 7 at Shippensburg University.

Both the men’s and women’s singles and doubles will be played on Saturday and Sunday in a single-elimination format. Tournament play on Saturday will begin at 11 a.m. and Sunday’s action will start at 8:30 a.m.

Santiago Baquerizo (Guayaquil, EQUADOR) is this years #1 seed in the men’s singles tournament and will receive a first round bye. The defending singles champion’s second round match will be against either West Chester’s Chip Diem or Bloomsburg’s Daniel Phillips. At last weeks ITA East Regionals at Bloomsburg, Baquerizo was one half of the “A” doubles champions who will head to the ITA Small College Championships in Fort Myers, FL. Additionally, he also made it to the singles finals in the same event.

Lukas Labitsch (Bruck an der Mur, AUSTRIA) is the #3 seed in this years tournament. He will be facing Bloomsburg’s Ryan Chow in the first round. In last year’s PSAC Team Championship, Labitsch was named the tournament’s most valuable player after winning both his singles and doubles matches. Last week, Labitsch was the other half of the winning “A” doubles team at the ITA East Regionals. Also, he made it to the second round of the singles tournament.

Somdeep Appineni (Hyderabad, INDIA) will face the number #2 seed, Daniel Gal of Bloomsburg University, in the first round. This season Appineni has an overall record of 0-2 losing both his singles and doubles match. In last year’s tournament, Appineni was one half of the winning doubles team.

Rubens Vianna (Belo Horizonte, BRAZIL), who teamed with Appineni for the title last year, will team with Arpit Sharma (Kolkata, INDIA) in this years doubles tournament. The team will compete against Millersville’s team of Scott Smith and Mark Treires in its first match.

Priya Pachkawde (Nasik, INDIA) will be competing in the women’s singles bracket. In her first round match she will face Lisa Baumgartner of Clarion. This season, Pachkawde is 1-1 in singles and 1-2 in doubles including making it to the 2nd round in both singles and doubles at last weeks ITA East Regionals.

Sabrina Arnaud’s (Pintedre, CANADA) first round match will pin her up against Bloomsburg’s Iida Hokkanen. This season, Arnaud has a 1-1 doubles record and 0-2 record in singles. She made it to the second round of the ITA East Regional singles tournament as well as the doubles where she partnered up with Priya Pachkawde.

Katie Miller (Fleetwood/Fleetwood) will be receiving a first-round bye in the singles tournament and will face Emily Murphy of Bloomsburg in her second round match. Miller is winless this year in her two singles and one doubles matches. In addition to singles, Miller will team up with Arnaud in the doubles bracket. The tandem, after their first-round bye, will take on the Slippery Rock duo of Kayla Blackburn and Laura Handy.