Millersville, Pa. - Facing a team that had allowed only one goal and four shots in its past five games, the No. 9 Millersville University field hockey team scored two goals in the first 11 minutes to earn a key Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) victory at home on Tuesday night against No. 6 Kutztown. It marks the Marauders' first win against a nationally-ranked opponent this season.

Millersville improves to 6-3 overall and 2-1 in conference play, while the Golden Bears fall to 9-2 overall and 2-1 in PSAC play.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
• After Kutztown opened the scoring in the sixth minute, the Marauders were quick to respond just over two minutes later. Kyra Brakefield took a penalty corner and sent the pass towards Erica Tarsi at the top left of the circle. Tarsi rocketed a shot that Brakefield deflected over the leg of the lunging goalkeeper to tie up the score.
• Millersville capitalized on another penalty corner just over three minutes later. Sol Ortiz-Kreiner passed the ball to the top of the circle where Jordan Goddard was positioned to send a laser into the back of the cage for the first goal of her collegiate career and give the Marauders a 2-1 lead.
• The Golden Bears recorded the first goal of the game when Mackenzie Fuhrman fired a shot in the circle that was blocked and Kyra Wozniak, who is tied for the conference lead in goals, took the deflection and fired a rocket from the front of the cage past the goalkeeper.
• Kutztown had its opportunities at the beginning of the second half to even up the score, as the team was awarded four penalties corners in the first 12 minutes of the half. On the fourth penalty corner, Autumn Peters made a diving save against a shot by Fuhrman and the deflection went to the opposite side of the goal. However, no Golden Bears forwards were able to capitalize on the opportunity.
• On one of Kutztown's final drives of the game in the 65th minute, Wozniak managed to sneak past Millersville's defense in the circle and fired off a high shot that Peters slapped away to preserve her team's lead.

COACH SHELLY BEHRENS QUOTES
• "I'm proud of our team, we got a great conference win tonight. I saw some great things in the first half that I've been wanting to see all season. Kutztown is a great team and you really find out what you're made of when you play in the PSAC. Tonight was a growing point for us and I'm excited for this team. We had two great corner goals; Jordan Goddard's goal was very nice and so was Kyra Brakefield's."
• "We backed off a little bit in the second half and I really wanted us to step it up. I think there's a lesson there for us to learn from so we can continue to get better. We've been tested this season and we keep learning. I like our team and I like where we are heading. Nothing makes you see how great you can be like facing a tough opponent, and we did tonight."
• "Brooke Troutman was great off the bench. Amber Macdonald also looked nice off the bench. Our striker defense in the first half was great. Lexi Robison and Sol Ortiz-Kreiner were lights out and our defense was great. I really like how we responded to their goal."
• "Our defense was really tested in the second half. We could have been smarter in the second half, but I like how we responded to our mistakes. You see a lot of close games in PSAC field hockey. Both teams really laid it out on the line and went after it tonight."

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
• With each of their assists tonight, Erica Tarsi and Sol Ortiz-Kreiner are now tied with Kyra Brakefield for the team lead in helpers with five.
• Jordan Goddard fired off a team-high two shots. Tarsi, Brakefied, Ortiz-Kreiner, Annabelle Tierney and Brooke Troutman each tallied one shot.
• Autumn Peters held down the defense with four stops in the cage. She now boasts a goals against average of 1.17 and a .800 save percentage, which is the fourth-highest mark in the conference.

NOTES
• Amber Macdonald made her collegiate debut tonight.
• Kutztown entered tonight's contest tied with East Stroudsburg for the fewest goals allowed in the PSAC with five and had allowed more than one goal in just one other game.
• The Golden Bears out shot the Marauders 10-7 and held a 7-4 advantage in penalty corners, marking just the second time this season Millersville has been out shot and trailed in penalty corners. 
• This marks the Marauders' 10th-straight win over Kutztown dating back to 2011. The Golden Bears now lead the all-time series 27-30-3. 

UP NEXT
• Millersville will next travel to No. 5 Shippensburg on Tuesday, Oct. 16 for a 4:05 p.m. matchup.

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