'PLYMOUTH, N.H. - Plymouth State University scored four goals in
the second half to turn a tight game into a rout Wednesday
afternoon, as the Panthers defeated Keene State College 5-1 in a
Little East Conference field hockey game at Arold Field.
Senior Lilly Silva (Lowell, Mass.) and junior Christina Farias
(East Dennis, Mass.) combined on three of the goals to lead the
Panthers. PSU stopped a three-game losing streak to the
defending LEC champions, improving to 6-3 overall this season and
3-1 in conference play. The Owls have alternated wins and
losses in their last six outings and are now 4-6 overall and 3-2 in
the LEC.
Keene State had the first opportunity to score, but a penalty
stroke eight minutes into the game by freshman Alyssa Rowell
(Queensbury, N.Y.) was stopped by PSU sophomore keeper Leah Curtin
(Londonderry, N.H.) The Panthers were awarded a penalty
stroke of their own eight minutes later, and junior Laurie Allinson
(Berwick, Maine) stepped up and scored to give the Panthers a 1-0
lead. Freshman Erin Ridgley (Amesbury, Mass.) tied things up
for Keene State with 11:29 on the clock, and the teams went into
the half at 1-1.
The second half was all Panthers. Silva converted the
eventual game-winner eight minutes in, with assists from Farias and
sophomore Heidi Hand (Portsmouth, N.H.) Five minutes later,
Farias finished off a penalty corner taken by Silva, and junior
Heather Corrigan (West Hartford, Conn.) made it 4-1 with her first
career goal with 17:37 on the clock. Silva added the final
goal, with an assist from Farias, with 10:28 remaining.
Curtin recorded seven saves to post her second straight
win. The Panthers also had a strong team defensive effort,
led by Allinson, sophomore Katie Barany (Middlesex, Vt.), and
seniors Kara Parent (Hampton, N.H.) and Morgan Butters (Stow,
Maine). Keene State goalie Sara Joyce (Hampstead, N.H.) made
nine saves before departing with 10 minutes remaining.
PSU returns to action Saturday with an LEC contest at Western
Connecticut (9:00 a.m.), a first-year program. The Owls
return home to host Eastern Connecticut in a conference match-up
(1:30 p.m.)
(Coutesy PSU Sports Information)
