Bloomsburg Field Hockey Looking to Repeat as National Champions

BLOOMSBURG- The Bloomsburg University field hockey team will begin its quest to repeat as NCAA Division II Field Hockey Champions when it hosts an NCAA South Regional quarterfinal contest against PSAC-rival Kutztown on Saturday beginning at 7 p.m.

Bloomsburg, 18-4 overall on the season and the second seed in the South Region, is looking to capture its 14th national championship in school history and fifth title in the last six years. The Huskies are led by junior Jamie Vanartsdalen (Huntingdon Valley/Lower Moreland) who registered the most productive scoring season in Bloomsburg history this year. Her 81 point total (32 goals and 17 assists) is now the best in school history for a season, surpassing the previous mark of 63. Vanartsdalen also leads the NCAA in all divisions in points and also became the school's career point's leader with 188 points scored. She was also named PSAC Field Hockey Athlete of the Year for her efforts this season.

Along with Vanartsdalen, senior Ashley Heckard (Millerstown/Greenwood) and junior Samantha Kropa (Tunkhannock/Lackawanna Trail) have been the teams other offensive forces up front. Heckard registered 24 goals and five assists on the year and her 53 point total was second best in the conference. Kropa scored 13 goals, recorded six assists and had two game winning goals on the year. Both Heckard and Kropa were All-PSAC selections for their efforts.

Along with Heckard and Kropa, freshman Brieann Wolfe (Perkaskie/Pennridge) has also been an offensive force. Wolfe scored 16 goals and recorded an assist on the year and was named PSAC Rookie of the Year for her efforts.

In goal, junior Allison Ziants (Winfield/Selinsgrove) has been the team's primary goalie making 16 starts. She has made 61 saves and has a goals against average of 1.27.

Kutztown (17-3) is making its first appearance in the NCAA playoffs since 1997 and only its fifth trip in school history. They are looking to win their first national championship after falling to Bloomsburg in the '97 National Championship game.

The Golden Bears are led by juniors Kelley Kealey, who was the third best scorer in the conference this season with 48 points (17 goals and 14 assists) and Lyndsay Butler who scored 10 goals and recorded eight assists. In goal, senior Sam Flowers has recorded 100 saves, has a goals against average of 1.47 and preserved three shutout victories.

Both teams are no stranger to one another, as they have faced off three times this season. Bloomsburg swept all three contests, winning 6-1 and 5-2 over the Golden Bears in the regular season, then followed that up with a 2-1 win in the PSAC Semifinals last Friday. The Huskies lead the all-time series over Kutztown 41-3-3.

The winner of the Bloomsburg-Kutztown game will take on top-seed Indiana (Pa.) next week at the NCAA Semifinals. UMass-Lowell will serve as the host of both the semifinals and finals.