'PLYMOUTH, N.H. 11/5/05 - The Keene State College field hockey
team captured the 2005 Little East Conference championship 1-0 over
Westfield State in a game decided by penalty strokes. After
battling to a scoreless tie against fourth seed Westfield State
through regulation and two overtime periods, the second-seeded Owls
claimed the title by defeating WSC in penalty strokes 4-1 in
Plymouth, N.H. on Saturday.
It was the fourth LEC Championship for the defending champion
Owls who also won the title in 1998, 1999 and 2004. Keene State,
now 14-8, advances to the NCAA Division III championship
tournament, while Westfield State, 10-9, hopes for a spot in the
ECAC Tournament.
Wesfield State senior goalkeeper Cat Hanks (Somers, Conn.) was
selected the tournament's Most Outstanding Player despite her
team's loss. Hanks was superb in Westfield's 3-1 semifinal
victory over top-seeded Plymouth State, when she made 16 saves, and
even stronger in the title game Saturday, making 28 saves.
Keene State controlled much of the play throughout the game as
it outshot Westfield State 12-2 in the first half and 31-10 for the
game. KSC also held a 17-6 advantage in penalty corners on
the afternoon. KSC's Katie Pokrywka (Roxbury, Mass.) and
Steph Georgevits (Concord, N.H.) had quality chances throughout the
game, but couldn't put one past Hanks.
KSC scored on penalty strokes by junior Amanda Rosenbeck
(Wilder, Vt.), freshman Alyssa Rowell (Queensbury, N.Y.), junior
Jess Mirisola (Tewksbury, Mass.), and senior Rachel Ladd
(Bridgewater, Mass.). The lone WSC penalty stroke goal was
scored by sophomore Megan Wolski (Plymouth, Mass.). After scoring
on its first stroke opportunity against KSC goalie Sara Joyce,
Westfield fired its next three shots wide of the cage.
"We dominated in the first half, but couldn't get the ball in
the net," said KSC Coach Amy Watson. "Fortunately I was able
to go deep in my bench, and that helped us during the overtime
period."
"We didn't get many breaks this season, including the flood
problems," Watson added. But we overcame the adversity and peaked
at the right time."
Keene State goalie Sara Joyce (Hampstead, N.H) recorded her
sixth shutout of the season as she registered six saves in the win.
