Gallery: (10-24-2026) 2026 Field Hockey vs. #1 Kutztown
SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – Goalkeeper
Grace Meinke recorded her first collegiate shutout and was one five seniors honored in a pre-game ceremony Saturday as the Shippensburg University field hockey team used a first-quarter goal by junior
Elaina Fragassi to come away with a 1-0 victory over undefeated No. 1 Kutztown on a beautiful sunny afternoon at the Claudia Robb Sports Complex.
Shippensburg (11-2, 5-1) and Kutztown (14-1, 5-1) each recorded five shots on goal and combined for just five total penalty corners in a highly competitive clash of two top-flight teams. Both squads worked hard to gain whatever territorial edges they could, with action mostly confined to the midfield
The only penalty corner of the first half proved to be the difference. In the final 20 seconds of the first quarter, SU earned its opportunity from which freshman
Isabel Rios delivered the insert. Fragassi received the ball and fired a crisp shot from the top of the circle that flew into the lower right corner of the cage.
The Golden Bears responded with a bit of a push early in the second quarter but made their most significant advance in the third quarter – a frame in which they earned all three of their penalty corners and fired three shots on goal.
Meinke, making just her second collegiate start as a Raider, turned aside each one and all five total shots she faced – as the Raiders handed KU its first shutout loss in a 37-game span (dating back to the 2024 NCAA Division II national championship game against St. Anselm).
Freshman
Juana Caracotche Picone was also credited with a defensive save in the second half, as she teamed up with Meinke to deny a third-quarter opportunity by Meryl Mesenbrink at the side of the cage.
Shippensburg weathered the third-quarter storm and was able to push back in the fourth quarter as KU slightly eased its press at various stages of the final frame. Junior
Anne Gardner had three solid scoring chances in the first five minutes, with Golden Bear goalkeeper Lorelai Lehenky making a save on the final attempt after two other shots had traveled wide of the cage.
The Raiders nearly made it 2-0 in the final three minutes but were denied on a penalty corner after two spectacular stops. The first was a kick save by Lehenky on
McKenna Boyle, and the second was a magnificent, picture-perfect defensive save by KU back Rachel Galasso on
Hannah White. Galasso held her stick at her chest to steer away White's rebound effort from close range.
Kutztown entered Saturday's match leading the nation in goals per game (5.36) and ranked second in penalty corners per game (13.71). Fragassi's goal was only the eighth allowed by the Golden Bears this season.
It was the second matchup of the season between the two teams: Kutztown won a non-conference contest 1-0 at Andre Reed Stadium back on Sept. 17.
Overall, it was the eighth time in the last 11 matchups between the two teams that was decided by a single goal.
Before Saturday's game, SU recognized its senior class: Boyle,
Carme Caracotche Picone, Meinke,
Kayla Snyder and White.
Shippensburg is back in action at 4 p.m. Wednesday when it hosts Frostburg State for a PSAC matchup at Robb Sports Complex.
Shippensburg vs. Kutztown since start of 2023 season:
Oct. 24, 2026 – #3 Shippensburg 1, #1 Kutztown 0
Sept. 17, 2026 – #2 Kutztown 1, #1 Shippensburg 0
Nov. 21, 2025 – #3 Shippensburg 3, #1 Kutztown 1 (NCAA Semifinals)
Nov. 9, 2025 – #2 Shippensburg 2, #1 Kutztown 1 (PSAC Championship Game)
Nov. 1, 2025 – #1 Kutztown 2, #2 Shippensburg 0
Nov. 22, 2024 – #3 Kutztown 4, #1 Shippensburg 3 (NCAA Semifinals)
Oct. 15, 2024 – #1 Shippensburg 3, #2 Kutztown 2
Sept. 18, 2024 – #2 Shippensburg 2, #1 Kutztown 0
Nov. 17, 2023 – #4 Kutztown 2, #2 Shippensburg 1
Nov. 3, 2023 – #2 Shippensburg 1, #3 Kutztown 0 (OT) (PSAC Semifinals)
Oct. 10, 2023 – #2 Shippensburg 3, #3 Kutztown 2
- All 11 games decided by two goals or less
- 8 of the 11 games decided by one goal
Gallery: (10-24-2026) 2026 Field Hockey Senior Day Ceremony
