HENNIKER, N.H. 10/6/11 —Keene State College's Elizabeth Coffin (Sugar Hill, N.H.) converted on a penalty stroke with just 3:17 remaining in regulation to lift the Owl field hockey team past the New England College Pilgrims 3-2 Thursday evening.

With the win the Owls improve to 10-2 overall, while the loss drops the Pilgrims to 4-7 on the season.

New England College would start the scoring as Emily Kuchta (Norwalk, Conn.) would dribble around two Keene defenders and score to notch her team-high tenth goal of the season and put the Pilgrims up 1-0 in the 22nd minute.

Keene State would knot the game at 1-1 just minutes later as Leddy Gallagher (Acton, Mass.) would fire a shot that would deflect off Pilgrim keeper Mary Roux (Auburn, Mass.) and bounce in.

The two teams would battle through the remainder of the opening half scoreless as Keene State would hold the 11-1 advantage in shots.

NEC would regain the lead in the 58th minute of play as Jennifer Adams (Brimfield, Mass.) would put in a pass from Kate Roberge (Essex, Vt.). 

The lead would be short lived as Keene States Elizabeth Coffin would rebound in a Niki Smith (Southwick, Mass.) shot in the 59th minute tying the game at 2-2.

The Keene State offense would continue to put on the offensive pressure out shooting NEC 25-4 on the evening. Keene would then get their opportunity with just over three minutes remaining as Coffin would come through netting her second goal of the game converting on a penalty stroke.

Picking up the win in goal for Keene State was Caitlin Davino-Draper (Hanover, Mass.) who finished with one save.  Mary Roux (Hillsborough, N.H.) stopped 17 Owl shots in the losing effort for NEC.

Keene State will travel to take on Little East Conference foe Worcester State on Saturday, Oct. 8. 

(Courtesy New England College Sports Information)