GORHAM, Maine - The Keene State College field hockey team limited the University of Southern Maine to just five shots on their way to posting a 2-1 Little East Conference victory on Wednesday afternoon at Hannaford Field.

Records

• Keene State:  6-0, 2-0 LEC
• Southern Maine:  4-2, 2-1 LEC

How It Happened

A pair of first half goals, one of which was Kayla Klein's tenth in the last four games, stood up as KSC won a low-scoring contest that was originally scheduled to be played last night.  Southern Maine saw a four-game winning streak snapped. 

There was not much action on either side over the first ten minutes, but the Owls struck first shortly thereafter.  About 45 seconds after a penalty corner taken by Nina Bruno, Klein found the back of the cage for a 1-0 lead at the 13:18 mark.  The Huskies had a quick answer, though, forcing a pair of corners a little over a minute later.  A shot off the initial opportunity resulted in a defensive save by Hailey Beaupre, but USM got another chance when Kerigan Demers found Abbie Staples for the tying goal in the 15th minute.  Keene State took command over the remainder of the half, as they had seven penalty corner opportunities.  The Owls got on the board again at the 21:05 mark when Julia Babbitt fed Kelsey Roberts for what proved to be the game-winning goal.  Roberts has now scored in consecutive games.  KSC had chances to extend the lead before the break, but was unable to do so and took a 2-1 lead into the locker room.

USM goalie McKenzie Cormier continued to keep her team in the game, stopping five different KSC shots in the first nine minutes of the second half.  The Huskies had a chance to even the score when Staples took another corner, but Demers was denied by KSC goalie Rachel Loseby at the 46:34 mark.  The Owls clamped down after that, as Southern Maine only generated one more shot, which went wide, in the final 23:26 of the contest.  The Huskies were awarded corners in both the 64th and 69th minutes, but those chances were snuffed out, and KSC won a second straight LEC road game.

Loseby made two stops and improved to 6-0 in goal for KSC.  Cormier (2-1) made 11 saves for USM.  The Owls outshot the Huskies 18-5 (13-4 on goal) and had 17 of the 23 penalty corners.

Penalty Strokes

• Klein now has 11 goals on the season.  She entered the day second nationally in goals per game (2.00), behind Taylor Conley of Springfield College (2.17).
• Keene State has allowed fewer than ten shots in three consecutive games.  The five allowed in this game was the second lowest opponent output of the season.
• The Owls now lead the all-time series against the Huskies 29-9.
• KSC is still receiving votes in the latest NFHCA Coaches Poll.

Up Next

• Keene State is right back at it tomorrow, September 20, when they host No. 18 Trinity College (Conn.) at 6:30 pm.
• Southern Maine travels to 8th-ranked Bowdoin College on Sunday, September 23 for a 2:00 pm start.