The NCAA News - News and Features

November 17, 1997

After rain delay, Bloomsburg claims second straight II field hockey title

After a one-day postponement because of heavy rain, host Bloomsburg claimed its second straight Division II Field Hockey Championship November 10, downing Kutztown, 2-0.

After a scoreless first half, the Huskies' Heather Weikel put the defending champions on the board on an assist from Jess Kircher with 33:21 left in the game.

Teammate Kelly Platt added an insurance goal with 5:53 left, assisted by Kim Boyce.

Goalkeeper Bethany Canner made seven saves for the shutout, as the Huskies outshot their cross-state rivals, 10-7.

The win improved the host's record to 20-3, marking the Huskies' first 20-win season since 1993, when the team won the Division II title and went undefeated. Bloomsburg has won four Division II championships and two Division III titles. All have come under coach Jan Hutchinson.

Kutztown, which was the first team to appear in the championship game besides Bloomsburg or Lock Haven since the first Division II championship in 1981, finished the season at 15-6.

CHAMPIONSHIP

Kutztown -- 0 -- 0 -- 0

Bloomsburg -- 0 -- 2 -- 2

Second half: B -- Heather Weikel (Jess Kircher); B -- Kelly Platt (Kim Boyce).

Shots: Kutztown 7, Bloomsburg 10. Goalkeeper saves: Kutztown (Erin Hammond) 9, Bloomsburg (Bethany Canner) 7. Penalty corners: Kutztown 5, Bloomsburg 18.