KEENE, N.H. – Alexa Skinner scored on a free kick shortly into the second half to break a scoreless tie and put the Keene State College women's soccer team up 1-0, but Kyla Norton would score with four minutes to go for Western Connecticut State University as the Wolves forced a 1-1 tie in the Little East Conference opener for both teams on a windy but clear Saturday afternoon at Dr. Ron Butcher Field.

Records

• Keene State: 2-2-2, 0-0-1 LEC
• Western Connecticut State: 0-3-3, 0-0-1 LEC

Postgame Interview (Coach Testo)

How it Happened

Although neither team scored in the first half, WestConn outshot the Owls 8-6, including five shots on goal to the Owls' one. The first shot on net did not come until 23 minutes into the contest as Suzana Imetovski was able to break away from the Owls defenders, but Sonia Moritz made a stop by sticking her right leg out to deflect the shot and keep the game scoreless. The Wolves were looking to score with just under five minutes to play in the first half, as McKenzie Sam would fire a shot on net from outside the box, but Moritz dove to her left and got her hands on it, saving the goal, but giving WCSU a corner. Shortly after the corner, Sophia Onek got a shot off from just inside the box, but Alexa Skinner would block the shot and send the ball the other way. With one minute left in the half, Moritz would make another diving save on an Imetovski breakaway, sending the match into halftime tied 0-0.
 
The Owls would strike first just three minutes into the second half as Skinner took a shot off a free kick that would arch over the hands of the Wolves' goalie, Gracen Regan, for her third goal in as many games.  WCSU would be on the offensive attack for a majority of the second half as they tried to even out the game at one a piece - though it took quite a while.  The Wolves had nine shot attempts from right after the Owls' goal across the next 30 minutes of game time, seeing seven shots go wide and two shot attempts get blocked. Myah Croze broke the streak of shot attempts not reaching the goal at the 78:42 mark, as she fired a shot from outside the box that Moritz was able to keep in front of her and pick up for the Owls.  KSC would do all they could to keep the Wolves' attack away as Kathleen Mullin and Giuliana Stolfi made strong defensive plays to keep WestConn in non-threatening positions, but eventually, WCSU would break even. With four minutes left to play, after the Owls would try to clear the ball out of their box, it would land at the foot of Kayla Norton, who fired a shot on target that deflected off the shoulder of KSC defender Rachel Souza and up and over Moritz, tying the game at one apiece. As the clock was ticking down in the final 30 seconds of play, Croze took a free kick in the Owl's defensive zone, but her shot went just high over the crossbar and the teams finished in a draw - the fifth combined between the two teams this season already.
 
Moritz made a season-high six saves in net for KSC, while Regan made two saves for WestConn.

Inside the Box

• With the draw, Keene State ends their seven-game losing streak to WCSU, where they were outscored 17-4.
• Alexa Skinner scored her third goal in as many games - all of which were the lone goal for the Owls in each of the contests.  KSC defeated Hartwick College 1-0 in New York last Sunday, and fell to Westfield State University 3-1 at home Wednesday.
• WCSU outshot KSC 20-9, including nine shots on goal to the Owls' three.

Up Next

• Keene State will have the third game of their four-game home stand against Worcester State University (0-3-1) on Wednesday, September 20, at 6:30 PM.  The Lancers have scored two goals in their initial four games, but have also not allowed more than two in any game.
• Western Connecticut State plays on short rest as they will host Framingham State University (1-3) tomorrow (Sunday, September 17) at 1:00 PM.