PLYMOUTH, N.H. - Sophomore Chelsea Blackmer (Boylston, Mass.) scored the game-winning goal with just 1:15 remaining in the second half Tuesday afternoon to lift Keene State College past Plymouth State University, 2-1, in a key Little East Conference field hockey game at Arold Field.

            Blackmer redirected a ball from the left side and into the Panther goal, finishing off an Owl penalty corner.  Senior Alyssa Rowell (Queensbury, N.Y.) sent the ball into the zone where Blackmer knocked it in for her third goal of the season. 

          "We had taken a few corners, so we were just winging it," said Blackmer, about her game-winning goal.  "I got my stick on the ball and tipped it by the goalie.  It was a big win for us.  They were right on our tail in the standings."

          Keene State, winners of four straight conference titles, takes control on the Little East race as the only undefeated team in league games, improving to 9-3 overall and 5-0 in the LEC.  PSU had its two-game shutout streak broken and dropped to 5-4 overall and 4-2 in conference play.

            Plymouth State dominated the first 10 minutes of the game, but it was the Owls who got on the board first.  Freshman Aislynn Sherry (Rehoboth, Mass.) knocked in a pass from junior Erin Dallas (Marlow, N.H.) for her third goal of the season with 20 minutes remaining in the opening half.

            PSU nearly evened the game twice, but both times Rowell saved the goal for Keene State with a pair of defensive saves on the goal line. Keene State carried much of the play the rest of the half, but senior Ashley Gutowski (Conway, N.H.) finished off a Panther penalty corner with 3:36 to play in the half with her seventh goal of the season, with junior Cortney Colligan (Brookfield, N.H.) setting up the score.

            Both teams had opportunities to score in the second half and the game appeared headed to overtime before Blackmer's goal won it for the Owls.

           It was another Keene State battle with a lot of aggressive play," said KSC Coach Amy Watson.  "Being on grass, we had to change our style of play, focus on defense and then taking advantage of our opportunities."

            The Panthers finished with a 15-10 advantage in shots.  Both goalies, KSC junior Vikki Stoessel (Derry, N.H.) and PSU freshman Sam Reuss (Chapel Hill, N.C.), finished with four saves. In addition to her assist on the go-ahead goal, Rowell also had four defensive saves.

            PSU hits the road for its next game Saturday at Westfield State (3:30 p.m.), while Keene State visits Bridgewater State on Thursday (4:00 p.m.)

(Courtesy PSU Sports Information)