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Pici and Grunza
Adam Murtland

Field Hockey

Mansfield Knocks off No. 7 Kutztown

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MANSFIELD – Junior Brianna Velepec scored two goals and recorded an assist as Mansfield stunned No. 7 Kutztown 4-1 Saturday afternoon on a rain-soaked Spaulding field.

“Our focus this season is to take care of business at home” said head coach Diane Monkiewicz. “ We limited a good offensive team to just one goal and that's what we needed.”

Mansfield (3-0, 0-0 PSAC West) had the Golden Bears on their heels early as Velepec received a Kristyn Grunza cross in front of goal and placed it into the cage in the second minute of the match to lead 1-0.

Kutztown (2-1, 0-0 PSAC East) threaten with four straight corners, but the Mountie defense shut down each opportunity. The Golden Bears held an 18-14 advantage on corners in the game.

In the 17th minute, senior Kristy Tutorow put Mansfield on top 2-0 with a well-placed shot into the right side of the goal. Grunza and Velepec teamed up to record assists on the play.

The Golden Bears wouldn't go away without a fight as senior Jenna Gregory took a pass from outside the circle from Emily Labowitz to cut the Mountaineers lead to one goal.

As the rain continued to pour down, Mansfield went into halftime with a 2-1 advantage.

Mansfield started the second half with four straight corners, but couldn't convert the opportunities into goals.

Sophomore Kayla Grunza had a key defensive save in the 42nd minute to prevent a Kutztown equalizer.

Minutes later, Velepec notched her second goal of the game and the fifth of the season, playing a Tutorow ball past the Kutztown keeper to put Mansfield out front 3-1.

The Golden Bears had multiple chances to close Mansfield's lead with 11 corners and eight shots on goal in the second half, but the Mountie defense and keeper Kristie Rollman held strong. Rollman finished the game with 10 saves.

Junior Taryn Schawillie dashed all hopes of a miraculous comeback from the Golden Bears when she scored her third goal of the season in the 69th minute.

Saturday's victory ends a five-game losing streak to Kutztown. The Mountaineer's last win over the Golden Bears came in a 7-2 decision at Spaulding Field on Sept. 20, 2009 when Mansfield's current seniors were freshmen.

Mansfield opens PSAC West play when it travels to IUP on Tuesday, Sept. 11.

-MU-


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