Press Release

KUTZTOWN, SHIPPENSBURG POST VICTORIES AT CLARION CLASSIC Saint Michael’s drops 2-1 decision in opener; Raiders post 5-1 win in nightcap FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                           FOR MORE INFORMATION August 28, 2004                                                                                             Contact: Seth Cole                                                                                                                      Phone: (802) 654-2537 COLCHESTER, Vt. – Kutztown University and Shippensburg University each used strong second halves to post season-opening victories on Saturday at the Clarion Field Hockey Classic, hosted by Saint Michael’s College on Doc Jacobs Field. Kutztown rallied for a 2-1 victory versus Saint Michael’s in game one, while Shippensburg posted a 5-1 win against Southern Connecticut State University in the nightcap. In the evenly-matched opener, the hosts took a 1-0 lead 5:47 into the second half on an unassisted goal by junior Johanne Skelley (Wolfeboro, N.H./Kingswood Regional). The lead was short-lived, however, as junior Lauren Blain (Marietta, Pa.) knotted the score for the Golden Bears less than two minutes later. The game remained tied for the next six minutes, until Kutztown took advantage of a Purple Knights’ penalty deep in its own territory, and sophomore Laura Belfatti (Hatfield, Pa.) converted on the ensuing penalty stroke. Saint Michael’s had one final chance to tie the game with seven minutes to go, but sophomore Megan Lagasse’s (Newburyport, Mass./Governor Dummer Academy) penalty stroke was stopped by Kutztown goalkeeper Trista Hershey (Fredericksburg, Pa.). Hershey finished with five saves, while senior Jess Anderson (Springfield, Vt./Springfield) turned aside nine shots for the Purple Knights. Game two also featured a scoreless first half, despite a 21-1 Shippensburg advantage in penalty corners and a 10-1 edge in shots in the frame. The Raiders erupted for five straight goals in an 11:10 span of the second half, including two by sophomore Ashley Watt (Harleysville, Pa.), to seal the win. Also scoring goals for Shippensburg were senior Samantha Wilmet (Dalton, Pa.), junior Kristen Houck (Reading, Pa.) and sophomore Natalie Grazan (Manheim, Pa.). For the Owls, senior Cori Krajewski (Carmel, N.Y.) scored off of a penalty corner, while sophomore Shauntaye Williams (Norwalk, Conn.) stopped 10 shots. Junior Nora Luchansky (Whitehall, Pa.) did not record a save for Shippensburg. The Clarion Field Hockey Classic concludes on Sunday, as Saint Michael’s and Shippensburg square off at 12 p.m., followed by Kutztown and Southern Connecticut at 2 p.m.  GAME #1 SUMMARY Kutztown             0        2          - 2 Saint Michael’s    0        1          - 1 First Half: No Scoring. Second Half: SMC, Skelley (unassisted), 29:13; KUT, Blain (unassisted), 27:32; KUT, Belfatti (unassisted), 21:18. Saves: KUT, Hershey (70:00), 5 saves; SMC, Anderson (70:00), 9 saves. Penalty Corners: KUT 9, SMC 7. Defensive Saves: SMC, Lagasse, Meghan Segar. GAME #2 SUMMARY Southern Conn.    0        1          - 1 Shippensburg      0        5          - 5 First Half: No Scoring. Second Half: SHP, Watt (Marissa Rothrock), 31:01; SHP, Grazan (unassisted), 30:18; SHP, Wilmet (Rothrock), 29:12; SHP, Watt (Lindsey Knupp), 25:48; SHP, Houck (Kendra Emery), 19:51; SCSU, Krajewski (Sarah Bland, Rachel Ragusa). Saves: SCSU, Williams (70:00), 10 saves; SHP, Luchansky (70:00), 0 saves. Penalty Corners: SCSU 3, SHP 28. Defensive Saves: None. ###PURPLEKNIGHTS###

For more information please contact the SMC Sports Information Office at (802) 654-2537
Last Revised: October 25, 2002