Women's Soccer
2009 Game Recaps
 

last updated 09/03/2009 09:50 AM

September 2, 2009
Kutztown 6, Mansfield 0 Boxscore

 Pennock provides wake-up call for KU in victory over Mansfield

KUTZTOWN, PA. (September 2, 2009) – Maybe Shannon Pennock (Mansfield, NJ/North Burlington) should change her name to the “Human Alarm Clock.”

The sophomore forward scored two goals and added an assist after intermission to wake-up the slumbering Kutztown University women’s soccer team.

Kutztown rode Pennock’s energy to score all of its goals in the second half during a 6-0 victory over Mansfield Wednesday afternoon in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division opener for both teams.

Kutztown, ranked sixth in the latest NSCAA Atlantic Regional rankings, improved to 2-0 overall and 1-0 in conference. Mansfield dropped to 2-1 and 0-1. Pennock got the Golden Bears going and along with a tenacious defensive effort helped freshman goalie Alyssa Hackelberg (Randolph, NJ/Randolph) earn her first career shutout. Hackelberg made four saves as KU defeated Mansfield for the fourth consecutive time.

Once Pennock provided her teammates with a much-needed jolt, nobody in maroon-and-gold hit the snooze button. The Golden Bears controlled the second half. Midway through the second half, the Golden Bears unleashed a three-goal barrage in a three-minute span to give them the breathing room they needed to prevail.

“I don’t think we were working as hard in the first half,” Pennock said. “We definitely came out a little flat, but we picked up our intensity in the second half.”

In outshooting Mansfield, 11-2, over the final 45 minutes, Kutztown turned up the pressure, started racing around the field and winning every loose ball. Pennock, who scored the game-winning overtime goal against nationally-ranked Mercyhurst last Friday, picked up where she left off by scoring the Golden Bears’ first two goals of the contest. Three minutes into the second half, Pennock scored on a direct kick blast from about 30 yards out.

Pennock’s most impressive shot was when she corralled a rebound, turned and fired – all in one motion -- a rocket from about 20 yards out into the net that looked like it was accompanied by a vapor trail in the 69^th minute. Kutztown was just getting started.

Pennock took a corner kick and the ball found teammate Jen Tice (Barnegat, NJ/Southern Regional), who put the ball in the net despite being surrounded by a forest of bodies in the 73^rd minute. Before fans could get settled into their seats, freshman Kelly Rozembersky (Roxbury, NJ/Roxbury) scored in the 74^th minute and junior Kelly Bushe (Neptune City, NJ/Neptune) scored in the 75^th minute.

Sophomore Emily Froehlich (Perkasie/Pennridge) finished off the scoring with a goal in the 81^st minute.

“Obviously I am very excited to have won this match,” Kutztown coach Erik Burstein said. “It is always critical to win your home conference matches, and with a better second half effort, we were able to do that. We received some great individual efforts, especially from Shannon Pennock, and we scored some truly fantastic goals. Although at times we played well as a unit, it was the individual efforts, and defensive stability, that propelled us to victory today.”

The defense was solid throughout the game. The blanket-like defense of junior Chelsea Deeter (Langhorn/Nehsmainy), freshman Brie Shipkowski (Manheim/Manheim Central), sophomore Laura Hearn (Wall, NJ/St. Rose) and Rozembersky helped keep the game scoreless until Kutztown found its groove. Senior Raven Chiara (Jamesburg, NJ/Monroe Township), sophomore Chelsea Bressler (Cleona/Annville-Cleona), freshman Sarah Black (Hershey/Lower Dauphin), freshman Julia DiFerdinando (Chadds Ford/Garnet Valley) and freshman Megan Zimmerman (Warminster/William Tennent) created havoc throughout the game, setting up some scoring opportunities.

Mansfield was led by freshman Erika Moyer, who used her speed, to generate a team-high three shots. Mansfield keeper Samantha Deliere made nine saves.

Kutztown continues its early season home schedule when it hosts Charleston (W. Va.) Saturday morning beginning at 11:00 a.m. Mansfield returns to action when its hosts East Stroudsburg at 1:30 p.m. in a PSAC East contest. KU visits Mansfield on Wednesday September 30. 

--KU--