KEENE, N.H. 9/18/11 – The Keene State College field hockey team capped off a busy stretch that saw them play five games in eight days with a 3-0 non-conference victory over Springfield College at Owl Athletic Complex on Sunday afternoon.

Four out of the five games were shutout wins for the Owls, who improve their record to 5-1.  Springfield College falls to 0-3.

"It was a tough week because the games take a lot out of you, but we got a lot of players in out and kept rotating the lines," said senior Aislynn Sherry (Rehoboth, Mass.). It was nice to finish the week on top with a win."

The Owls first goal came off a penalty corner.  Senior Elizabeth Coffin (Sugar Hill, N.H.) swept the ball in front and Sherry deflected in into the net for her first goal of the season. "I saw the cross and my stick was there," said Sherry.  "It's always nice to get the first goal of the game."

Senior Lynne Donoghue (Barnstable, Mass.) had a chance to get the equalizer for the Pride minutes later.  Taking a rebound off the pad of KSC freshman goalie Caitlin Davino-Draper, Donoghue had an open net, but her shot dribbled just wide of the goal. 

Keene State added a second goal with just over three minutes to play in the half.  Sophomore Aimee Donaruma (Hampden, Mass.) crossed the ball to Coffin, who flicked a one-timer in the top corner of the net for her team-leading sixth goal of the season and her sixth goal in the Owls last five games.

Springfield picked up its play in the second half. KSC Sophomore Justine Hunnewell (Lebanon, N.H.) made a defensive save on a shot by sophomore Kelly Gallo (Westfield, Mass.).

Keene State got an insurance goal at the 46:27 mark when junior Kalin Billert (Center Conway, N.H.) tipped a pass from Coffin into the net to make it 3-0.

The Pride pressed to get on the board, but Davino-Draper was up to the task.  Lying on the ground, she lifted her blocker to deflect a shot by sophomore Amy Dean (Westbrook, Conn.) and later dove out of her net to stop a bid by junior Jenn Califano (Suffern, N.Y.).  "It's almost instinct.  I think sometimes I'm just as surprised by my saves as anyone else," said Davino-Draper who made eight saves for her third shutout of the season. "When you get a lot of shots it keeps you in the game."

Freshman Tory Sowizral (Harvard, Mass.) finished the game with six saves for Springfield.

The Pride edged the Owls in shots 14-13 and also had a 12-8 advantage in corner opportunities. 

The Owls hit the road for a couple of games, starting on Wednesday with a non-conference game at Trinity (6 p.m.).