GORHAM, Maine – Brooke Carson tipped home a blast from Elizabeth Gonyea with 7:18 to go in regulation and the University of Southern Maine tightened the Little East Conference race with a 2-1 victory over the Keene State College field hockey team Saturday afternoon at Hannaford Field.
Records
- Keene State: 8-10, 8-2 LEC
- Southern Maine: 11-7, 8-3 LEC
How It Happened
The Owls scored first just 55 seconds into the second quarter when, on a KSC advantage,
Grace Taylor corralled a ball in front and slid it past USM goalkeeper Julianna Kiklis for a 1-0 lead. It is the second game in a row with a goal for Taylor, and her fifth this month (since October 2). However, the Huskies tied it just before halftime and then scored the eventual winner in the 53rd minute, snapping Keene State's three-game winning streak with their seventh one-goal win of the season in 11 such games. Six of Southern Maine's last seven games have been decided by just one goal. Keene State had won seven of nine since a 1-7 start, but fell to 3-6 on the road. The Owls still do control their destiny for the top seed in the conference if they defeat Castleton University and Westfield State University this coming week.
Keene State's 1-0 lead disappeared with less than a minute to go in the opening half, as they twice could not get the ball through Southern Maine's pressure and to midfield. It eventually cost them as Carson brought the ball into the circle for USM and fed Olivia Lambert for a shot that was saved, but Abigail Chartier was there for the follow-up effort that tied the game. Now even at one, the Owls had a pair of chances to retake the lead midway through the third quarter following
Maggie Cahoon's corner insert, but Kiklis kept out shots by
Demetria Gonzalez (three goals in last two games) and
Hannah Wood within seconds of each other to keep it tied.
Molly Edmark, who had seven stops in the game, made two of them in the third quarter after USM corners as it remained 1-1 into the final 15 minutes.
Southern Maine went in front with 7:18 to go as the Owls could not fully clear the ball and start their own push. Adelle Surette's pressure outside the circle and subsequent pass to Olivia Lambert along the right side helped create the chance, with Surette's centering ball eventually finding the stick of Gonyea at the top of the circle. Her blast was tipped home by Carson as the Huskies went in front for the first time. The Owls had a pair of chances to tie minutes later, but
Clara Hunkins' shot went wide and then Kiklis denied Cahoon's bid shortly after her corner with 3:57 left. Keene State could not produce any other threats after that, falling to USM by a goal in Gorham for the second consecutive time after winning the previous 21 games in the series.
Penalty Strokes
- Keene State has lost eight of nine this season when scoring two or fewer goals.
- All of Taylor's 14 points (nine goals, five assists) have come since September 25 (10 games).
- KSC and Westfield State are currently tied for first in the LEC with 8-2 marks. The two teams play each other in Massachusetts next Saturday. USM is a half-game back and Worcester State University and Eastern Connecticut State University one game out.
Up Next
- The Owls close their regular season home schedule on Tuesday, October 26 against Castleton University (6-10, 4-6 LEC) at 6:30 p.m. The Spartans are one game out of the eighth and final playoff spot in the league standings, but have not beaten a team currently above sixth place in the conference.
- Southern Maine hosts Plymouth State University (7-7, 5-5 LEC) on the same day at 4:00 p.m.
