KEENE, N.H. – Irini Stefanakos and Molly Murray scored one minute and thirty-one seconds apart midway through the third quarter to tie the game and provide the Keene State College field hockey team a huge jolt, but Worcester Polytechnic Institute retook the lead with less than a minute to go in the period and wound up holding on for a 4-3 victory in non-conference action Saturday afternoon at Owl Athletic Complex.

Records

• Keene State:  6-5
• WPI:  6-6

Postgame Interview (Coach Watson)
Postgame Interview (Molly Murray)

How It Happened
In a game that started slow, but picked up in terms of the entertainment factor as time went on, it was ultimately the Engineers' fast start – and two goals in 48 seconds late in the first quarter – that wound up proving to be the difference.  WPI controlled the pace early, having the ball in their attacking circle for far more time than the Owls, but KSC keeper Clara Gorman made a pair of stops in the opening 3:42 to keep the game scoreless.  The Engineers' Nini Acquista stopped a shot of her own by Hannah Wood in the eighth minute, and then her team controlled the rest of the quarter, scoring twice off corners that were inserted by Eliza Dutson.  On the first one, Dutson found Lauren Meinhold at the top of the circle, who then shoveled it off to Eve Martineau on the left.  The WPI midfielder unleased a twirling centering feed that found the waiting stick of Abbey Powers, who directed it past Gorman by the far post for a 1-0 lead with 2:31 left in the quarter.  The lead was doubled not even a minute later when, after yet another more corner (WPI had 17 in the game), Powers corralled a loose ball in front and beat Gorman.  Dutson began the corner and found Samantha Robison, who passed it to her left to Meinhold.  Her shot hit KSC defender Hailey Patridge who was standing next to Gorman, but Powers corralled the ball and made it 2-0 with 1:43 to go in the first.

After a second quarter in which the score did not change and just one shot was recorded, which was saved by Gorman, Keene State's offense sprung to life midway through the third in what turned out to be an interesting finish after it did not appear the game was headed for one early.  After the Owls nullified two corner chances for the Engineers and Gorman made one more stop in the opening five minutes out of the halftime locker room, they trimmed the lead to 2-1 in the 37th minute.  Elizabeth Gonyea stopped a WPI clear attempt following a restart and passed to Kalina Piasecki in the circle, who then found Stefanakos for a sweeping shot that beat Acquista.  After weathering another Engineers' corner, the Owls tied the game just 1:31 later off a transition rush that turned into a penalty stroke.  Chase Lambert led Stefanakos with a pass that turned into a 2-on-1 chance with Hunkins.  When the two got into the circle, Stefanakos passed to Hunkins, who was tripped up by Martineau, resulting in a penalty stroke.  The Owls turned to Murray – again – who did not miss – again – to tie the game at two with 6:38 left in the third.

It seemed Keene State would head into the fourth locked in a tie with 15 minutes to go, but the Engineers scored a momentum-deflating goal with 25 seconds left in the third.  After the Owls had the ball looking to generate something, WPI forced a turnover and worked their way up the field with quick and short passes, eventually seeing Powers connect with Lauren Dishong, who corralled the ball in the circle and elevated a ball past Gorman for a 3-2 lead.

KSC surrendered five corners in the opening six minutes of the fourth, but Gorman was up to the task, making five stops in the opening seven minutes.  However, in the 53rd minute, after the Owls' keeper stopped out two bids, it was a third-chance rebound goal by Holly Mason that found its way through and gave WPI a 4-2 lead.

The Owls drew within one again with 5:14 left in regulation after capitalizing on a penalty corner of their own.  Chase Lambert inserted to Maggie Cahoon, who passed off to Stefanakos.  Acquista kicked out that try, but Piasecki gathered the ball after it pinballed around in front and sent it toward goal, where was tipped home by Demetria Gonzalez.  Now down 4-3, Keene State perhaps had a chance for a late equalizer when Cahoon found Stefanakos on a rush with space, but Martineau jammed it up at it entered the circle.  KSC still had the ball in WPI's circle with less than a minute on the clock, but was unable to generate any substantial chance before a whistle ended the threat.

Gorman (5-5) finished with 10 saves for the Owls in the loss, while Acquista (6-6) stopped three of six shots to get the win.

Penalty Strokes

• WPI had an 18-8 advantage in shots (14-6 on goal) and had 17 penalty corners, 11 of which came after halftime.
• KSC fell to 1-5 in non-conference games this year, 0-3 against NEWMAC teams (all one goal losses at home).
• Stefanakos has scored a goal in three consecutive games and six of her last eight.
• The Owls have dropped four of six one-goal decisions on the season.

Up Next

• Keene State has the first half of a road back-to-back on Tuesday, October 11 when they visit Fitchburg State University (6-5, 4-2 LEC) for an LEC matchup at 4:00 p.m.  The Falcons have won back-to-back games by a combined 7-1 score after a loss to Rivier University, and have tripled their win total from a year ago when they finished 2-16.
• WPI is off for a week until they visit league foe Smith College (7-5, 4-1 NEWMAC) on October 15 for an 11:00 a.m. start.