KUTZTOWN, PA – Valerie Van Kuijck (Denbosch, The Netherlands) scored in the second overtime to lift No. 2 West Chester to a 3-2 victory over No. 6 Kutztown in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) field hockey contest inside Andre Reed Stadium Wednesday night.
West Chester (12-3, 6-2 PSAC) clinched a spot in the PSAC Tournament, which begins next week, with its win over host Kutztown (11-5, 5-4).
Caitie MacNamara (Buderim, Australia) fed Van Kuijck the ball in the middle of the circle, and her shot beat Kutztown's goalie for the game-winner in the 78th minute. The teams were just under two minutes away from a penalty shootout when Van Kuijck sent everybody home with her winner.
West Chester had to come from behind twice, doing so each time on a penalty stroke conversion from senior
Emma Velez (Coatesville, Pa./Bishop Shanahan). She scored on a stroke in the 28th minute – just before halftime – and again in the 58th minute to send the contest into overtime with less than two minutes left in regulation.
Claire Nielsen (Wescosville, Pa./Emmaus) made five saves to pick up her 12th win of the season in the cage. Katie Dottenweich made 10 saves for Kutztown. West Chester held advantages in shots (18-14) and penalty corners (17-16) in what turned out to be everything it was billed to be heading into the critical conference clash.
West Chester closes out the regular season on Saturday when Mansfield visits Vonnie Gros Field on Senior Day for a 1 p.m. tilt.
