Box Score KEENE, N.H.--Second half goals from Sami Smith and Kayla Renaud gave the Keene State College field hockey team a 2-1 win over Eastern Connecticut State in the Little East Conference field hockey championship game at Owl Athletic Complex on Saturday afternoon.
The Owls, who won their 11th tournament title overall and third in a row, improve to 16-7, and will find out who and where they will play in the first round of the NCAA tournament when the field is announced late Sunday evening. The Warriors, who were appearing in the championship game for the first time, end the year at 13-7.
The Warriors had the first chance of the game, but KSC goalie Meaghan Dwyer, who was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament, denied Laura Chicorka five minutes into the game.
Kendal Brown and Erica Stauffer both had opportunities to open the scoring, but ECSU goalie Samantha Scavo was equal to the task as the game remained scoreless at halftime.
It didn't stay that way for long, as two minutes into the second half, the Owls broke through. Emily Medeiros sent in a penalty corner, which Marita Brothers teed up for Renaud, whose shot was redirected into the cage by Sami Smith for her 24th goal of the season.
13 minutes later, the lead was doubled, and it was off a penalty corner again. This time, Brittney Cardente sent in the corner, and Renaud hammered home her eighth of the season.
Dwyer and the rest of the Owls weathered the storm, as Keene State played approximately seven minutes down three players, as Brown, Marita Brothers, and Sami Smith all received yellow cards. Dwyer stuffed Mackenzie Brower on one attempt, and Medeiros made a defensive save on another from Brower.
The Warriors continued to press, but Dwyer stoned Chicorka and Alex Kallgren. Eastern Connecticut earned a penalty corner in the final minute, and broke up the shutout when Paige Schneider scored with no time remaining.
Keene State also won titles in 1998, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2013, and 2014. The Owls will be making their ninth appearance in the NCAA tournament as an NCAA Division III member.
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