Box Score WESTFIELD, MASS. 10/22/13 – Freshman forward Sami Smith (Merrimack, N.H.) scored on a breakaway with 6:08 remaining as Keene State College held off upset minded Westfield State University, 4-3, in Little East Conference field hockey action on Tuesday, Oct. 22.
"Leddy (Gallagher) gave me a great lead pass and I deflected it right past the goalie," said Smith about her game-winner and team leading 11th goal of the season. "They had just tied the game less than a minute earlier, but we didn't get discouraged."
Keene State remains undefeated and on top of the conference standings with a 9-0 record and improves to 14-3 overall. Westfield State drops to 3-6 and 6-8.
Despite being outshot, 30-6, Westfield State tied the score at 3-3 on a goal by freshman Meg Doherty with 6:57 remaining in the game. Doherty gathered a loose ball on the right side following a penalty corner attempt and fired a shot inside the left post for the game-tying goal.
Keene quickly regained the lead for good when Leddy Gallagher dribbled down the middle of the field and passed to a wide open Smith on the right side for the breakaway goal.
Westfield took a 1-0 lead midway through the first period on a goal by freshman forward Holly Brouillette. Doherty assisted on the goal.
Keene knotted the score on an unassisted goal from Aimee Donaruma in the 26th minute. Donaruma then assisted on a Marisa Lemoine goal to give the visitors a 2-1 lead in the 30th minute.
Westfield evened the score at 2-all with 1:28 remaining in the first half on a goal by Kelly Kenney, with an assist from Sarah Pliszka.
Keene took a 3-2 lead two minutes into the second stanza on a goal by Katelyn Simula. Gallagher tallied her first of two assists on the goal.
Keene had 22 shots on goal and also dominated the penalty corners, 23-3.
KSC sophomore goalie Chloe Audesse (Goffstown, N.H.) finished the game with three saves. Westfield freshman goalie Megan Fountaine was outstanding between the pipes with 15 saves and Westfield back Kelsey Carpenter was credited with three defensive saves.
Keene State is at Framingham State on Saturday for a 2 p.m. LEC game.
(Courtesy Westfield State Sports Information)
