'PLYMOUTH, N.H. - Junior Steph Georgevits (Concord, N.H.) scored
the only goal of the game with 48 seconds remaining in the first
overtime Friday afternoon, lifting second-seeded Keene State
College to a 1-0 victory over sixth-seeded University of
Massachusetts Dartmouth in the semifinals of the Little East
Conference Field Hockey Tournament at PSU's Arold Field.
The winner of five straight, the Owls advance to
Saturday's championship game at PSU, where they will face
fourth-seeded Westfield State. WSC upset top-seeded Plymouth
State in Friday's first semifinal, 3-1. KSC, now 13-8, will
be making its third straight appearance in the LEC title
game. Keene State won LEC championships in 1999 and
2004. KSC defeated WSC 5-0 earlier this season in Keene.
Neither Keene State or UMass Dartmouth was able to score during
70 minutes of regulation. Georgevits and junior Nichole
Garneau (Twin Mountain, N.H.) had opportunities for Keene State in
the first half but were turned away by UMD junior keeper Elizabeth
Fitzgerald (Danvers, Mass.) Senior Katrine Pokrywka (Roxbury,
Conn.) had two chances for the Owls in front of the UMD net late in
the second half but could not push it home.
Sophomore Lindsey Berube (Somerset, Mass.) nearly put one in for
the Corsairs as the second half wound down, but her shot deflected
off the side of the net.
Keene State, which outshot UMD 14-9 during regulation, had a 5-0
advantage in shots in the overtime session. Georgevits
finally ended it with darkness approaching, shooting the ball into
the right side of the cage with Pokrywka assisting on the play.
"Katy crossed the ball to me from the top of the circle and I
was able to direct the ball in the net," said Georgevits describing
her game-winning goal. "It was a total team effort, it was
just a question of who was going to put the ball in the net."
"We were in control for the most part, but couldn't capitalize
on our opportunities," said KSC Coach Amy Watson. "Once we
got into the seven-on-seven in overtime we were able to spread the
field and dominate with our speed."
KSC junior goalie Sara Joyce (Hampstead, N.H.) recorded eight
saves to collect her sixth shutout of the season, while Fitzgerald
finished with 10 saves for the Corsairs.
Georgevits likes the Owls' chances against Westfield. "If we
play with the same intensity, we should be able to beat
them," she said.
UMD, which was seeking its first LEC title game appearance,
completes its season at 10-11.