Vikki Stoessel, Senior, Field Hockey
Led by senior goaltender Vikki Stoessel's (Derry, N.H.) diving penalty stroke save with 28 seconds remaining, the Keene State College field hockey team defeated UMass.-Dartmouth 3-2 to grab the top seed in the Little East Conference Tournament on Saturday afternoon at Owl Athletic Complex.
UMass.-Dartmouth forward Stephanie Kinchla (Falmouth, Mass.) was awarded a penalty stroke with 28 seconds remaining in the game after she broke in alone and was fouled by the Keene State defense.
"When someone is awarded a penalty stroke they are supposed to score," said Watson. "The way it is set up it is very hard to stop it."
But Stoessel was up to the task, diving to the top left corner of the goal to set aside the shot and run the clock out for a thrilling 3-2 KSC victory.
"We practice the penalty stroke almost every day," said Stoessel, who finished the game with 13 saves. "It was honestly the most intense moment of my entire life but I just focused on the ball and made the big save."
With the win the Owls finish the regular season at 16-4 and 9-2 and will host a quarterfinal LEC Tournament game on Tuesday, November 3rd against Salem State College at 6 p.m. at Owl Athletic Complex.