KUTZTOWN, Pa. – No overtime would be needed on Tuesday night as the third-ranked East Stroudsburg University women's field hockey team defeated fifth-ranked Kutztown 2-0 under the lights at University Field in a PSAC matchup.
 
ESU (11-1, 4-0) moved up to No. 3 in the latest NFHCA Division II Coaches Poll after defeating No. 6 Shippensburg last Wednesday, 2-1. Both teams recorded seven shots in the contest, while ESU held a 7-4 advantage in shots on goal. Kutztown had 10 penalty corners in the contest but would be unable to beat ESU senior goalkeeper Maddie Richie.
 
The Warriors needed just 53 seconds to tally the first goal of the contest as sophomore Celeste Veenstra beat Kutztown goalkeeper Katie Dotterweich to the left side of the cage. The goal marked the 15th of the season for Veenstra, who was named the PSAC Field Hockey Athlete of the Week earlier in the day.
 
Senior Emily Spangler doubled the ESU lead to 2-0 at the 2:28 mark of the first quarter as her shot followed a blocked shot at the top of the box. The score was the third of the season for Spangler and 39th of the season for the Warriors as a team.
 
Richie faced her first test in net at the 3:24 mark of the quarter as Kutztown's Rachel Dusman took a shot that would be denied by the Warriors' netminder. That would be the only save made by either goalkeeper in the opening quarter.
 
Kutztown switched goalies to start the second quarter as Kerri Hanshaw replaced Dotterweich in net. Hanshaw would be tested by ESU just 1:47 into the quarter as senior Grace Martini had her scoring opportunity denied.
 
Both goalkeepers would make another save in the quarter as Richie and Hanshaw would stand tall in net and keep the score 2-0 heading into the half. The Warriors held a 4-3 advantage in shots, while the Golden Bears took all-three corners that were awarded.
 
With the score holding at 2-0 entering the fourth quarter, Richie faced an early scoring opportunity by the Golden Bears as Dusman tried a second time to get her team onto the scoreboard. Richie kept the shutout in order with another save just two minutes later off a shot by Kutztown's Mackenzie Fuhrman. The Warriors had a pair of chances to try and extend their lead in the quarter but would be unsuccessful as Hanshaw denied senior Sara Ober with less than 10 minutes left to play. Veenstra would also be denied in the final two minutes of the contest by Hanshaw.
 
Richie (11-1) lowered her goals-against average to 0.26 on the season after making four saves in net for ESU. Hanshaw wouldn't factor into the decision for the Golden Bears despite making four stops and not allowing a goal for Kutztown. Dotterweich (7-3) suffered the loss for Kutztown after playing the opening 11 minutes of the contest.
 
The Warriors head to Slippery Rock on Sunday for a 12 p.m. matchup against The Rock. ESU recorded a 3-0 shutout against The Rock at Whitenight Field on Sept. 14 in a non-conference tilt. ESU returns home on Oct. 16 as the Warriors host Bloomsburg at 3 p.m.