Kutztown's Dusman, Gatehouse and Blasone named NFHCA All-Americans

Three Kutztown University field hockey players were recognized as All-Americans by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA), Friday, following one of the best seasons in program history. Graduate student forward/midfielder Rachel Dusman (Chambersburg, Pa./Chambersburg) and junior defender Sarah Gatehouse (Sinking Spring, Pa./Wilson) earned First Team honors, while graduate student midfielder Olivia Blasone (East Berlin, Pa./Bermudian Springs) claimed a spot on the Second Team.

Dusman is a repeat All-American, but moves up to the First Team for the first time in her career following Second Team honors last fall. The Chambersburg, Pa., native was the catalyst for a high-powered Kutztown offense that averaged 3.47 goals per game, third best in NCAA Division II.

Dusman led the Golden Bears in most offensive categories, including goals (14), points (36), shots (90), shots on goal (52) and game-winning goals (four). Her 14 goals were a career-high and she topped 30 points in a season for the first time since 2018, when she put up a career-high 38. Dusman, who ranks seventh at KU in career points (114), finished the 2022 season fourth in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference and ninth in NCAA DII with 1.89 points per game. She was a starter in all 19 games for the Golden Bears as they went 16-3, reached No. 1 in the NFHCA national rankings and claimed the PSAC's regular season crown.

Gatehouse contributed on both ends of the field, enjoying a breakout campaign for the Maroon and Gold to receive her first All-America nod. A Berks County product from nearby Sinking Spring, Gatehouse had her freshman season canceled because of the pandemic in 2020. She stepped in immediately in 2021, starting and playing in 16-of-18 games, before starting all 19 this season.

Gatehouse played a key role for coach Marci Scheuing on penalty corners, leading to career-highs of 10 assists and 14 points. She ranked seventh in NCAA DII in assists per game (0.53) and equaled last year's total with a pair of goals as well. Defensively, Gatehouse helped the Bears post the nation's third best goals against average (0.83) and 10 shutouts.

Blasone was rewarded for her two-way play in the midfield with her first All-America honor. The graduate student from East Berlin, Pa., took a major step forward offensively this season with career-highs of eight goals and 16 points. She spread those goals over seven contests and was efficient throughout the season, leading the team and ranking seventh in the PSAC with a .421 shot percentage.

Blasone registered three game-winning goals among her eight tallies and could also be counted on to help stymie the opposition's attack. In addition to having the third-best goals against average in the country, Kutztown also ranked second in shutouts per game (0.53).

Kutztown, which ranked second in the NFHCA's final national poll, has three representatives on the All-America teams for the third straight season. In the program's 53-year history, 44 student-athletes have combined for 68 All-America honors.