Box Score Keene, NH— The Keene State College field hockey team put together a strong offensive performance, taking down the Golden Bears of Western New England University, 9-2, on Saturday at Owl Athletic Complex in Keene, New Hampshire.
The Owls (1-0) would strike first, 15:15 into the first half when senior forward Kalin Billert (North Conway, NH) found the back of the net off a feed from Leddy Gallagher (Acton, MA) putting Keene State up 1-0.
They would add to their lead just over three minutes later, when Hannah Gage (Lebanon, NH) came in off the bench to tally her first goal of the game, set up by Hayley Dolan (West Brookfield, MA), giving the Owls a 2-0 advantage.
Western New England (0-1) wouldn't go away, cutting into Keene State's lead. Senior Shelby Van Huysen (Killingworth, CT) would rocket a shot from 10 yards out, into the back of the net with 11:57 left in the first half, cutting the score to 2-1.
The Owl's would bounce back to close out the half, finding the back of the net for the third time, this time off the stick of Freshman newcomer Emily Medeiros (Wilbraham, MA) at the 25:40 mark of the first half, set up on the play by Alexandra Billert (North Conway, NH). The Owl's would head into the break with the 3-1 advantage.
Keene State would really pull away in the second half, outscoring the Golden Bears 6-1. The scoring would come from anywhere and everywhere for Head Coach Amy Watson.
"It was nice that we got everybody in on the field, everybody played. It was nice to have different people contribute," said Watson.
The Owls went up 4-1 on Kalin Billert's second goal of the game 6:25 into the second half. They made it 5-1 at the 52:50 mark, when senior Aimee Donaruma (Hampden, MA) tipped one into the back of the net off Gallagher's second assist of the game.
The Owls would add two more goals over a span of 1:40 to take a 7-1 lead. Kalin Billert tallied a hat trick with her 3rd goal of the game off a feed from Katlyn Simula (Bridgewater, NH), and Marisa Lemoine (Berlin, NH) scored off a pass from Julia Forgione (Windham, NH).
Forgione would get into the scoring act, at the 62:00 mark, giving the Owls a 8-1 advantage, assisted by Lemoine .
Gage would round out the scoring for Keene State, tallying her 2nd goal of the game off a pass from Medeiros, making 9-1.
The Golden Bears would add another goal as time expired. Off a penalty corner, with no time left, Van Huysen found the back of the net for the 2nd time, making the final score 9-2.
Kaitlyn Hall (Pawtucket, RI) took the loss in net for the Golden Bears, making 17 saves.
The Owls were lead in goal by Caitlin Davino-Draper (Hanover, MA) who picked up the victory (1-0). She split time in net with freshman Meaghan Dwyer (Rutland, MA), both making 1 save.
The Owl's will return to action on Wednesday, September 5th, when they hit the road, traveling to Springfield College to take on the Pride, at 7:00 pm.
