Box Score KEENE, N.H. – The Keene State College women's soccer team used a strong second half behind goals from
Keely Giordano and
Bryn Dickinson to take down Western Connecticut State University at home for senior day, 2-1, as the Owls moved to 3-0-4 in the LEC.
Records
- Keene State: 8-4-6 (3-0-4 LEC)
- Western Connecticut: 10-7-2 (4-3-1 LEC)
How it Happened
Both teams had a fairly even first half as neither team found the back of the net over the first 45 minutes of play. WestConn had the first shot on goal under two minutes into the contest, but the Owls starting senior goalkeeper,
Riley Andriski, saved the shot early on. KSC had a lengthy attack of their own near the halfway point of the half but of their four shots over a six-minute span, Gracen Regan saved both of the two shots on net from KSC. The rest of the opening half both goalkeepers made another save as the teams headed to the half tied at 0-0.
Having scored her first career collegiate goal less than a week ago in the Owls' last home game,
Keely Giordano found the back of the net just 26 seconds into the second half as
Elise Saab sent the ball out ahead of her and she was able to poke the ball past a charging Regan to put the Owls up 1-0. KSC held off an immediate response from the Wolves with Andriski making a save and the Owls defense knocking away three consecutive corner kicks from WestConn. After the Wolves kept the Owls off the board from another offensive push, that included
Elizabeth Tschudin ringing a shot off the crossbar, WestConn as able to find the back of the net following a miscue by the Owls' defense that led to Noelle Haase finding the back of the net at the 60:17 mark to tie the contest. The game only remained tied for 70 more seconds as the Tschudin sent a pass across the Wolves' box to
Bryn Dickinson who buried the shot to give the Owls the lead again. The Owls continued the pressure on the attack for the next six minutes, but Regan made another pair of saves and Tschudin saw another shot hit off the crossbar as KSC's lead remained at one for the moment. The rest of the contest, Andriski held her ground strong by making three more saves in net for the Owls. In the closing minute following a shot from Sophia Onek hitting the right post for the Wolves, KSC tried to kill the clock out as Tschudin dribbled down the field. Onek drew a yellow card seconds later as she went and took out both of Tschudin's legs, causing the crowd to explode. Despite the last effort from the Wolves, KSC was able to hold on for the 2-1 senior day win to remain undefeated in the LEC.
Congrats to the Owls' seven seniors,
Riley Andriski,
Joclynn Tyler,
Giuliana Stolfi,
Katie Hattie,
Morgan Prates,
Christina Sanders, and
Marissa McCarney! We wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors!
Inside the Box
- KSC improves to 13-23-6 in the all-time series between the two teams with the win, snapping the 10-game losing streak to WCSU.
- KSC's attack was firing in the second half after both teams had seven shots apiece, the Owls outshot WestConn 17-8 in the second half, totaling 17-8 on the day, including an 8-7 shot on goal tally.
- Dickinson's goal brings her season-total to three goals and a pair of assists, for eight points, the same line as her sophomore season.
- Tschudin continues her streak of points on the attack as she now has 21 points from eight goals and five assists, including a point in six of the past eight games which KSC has gone 6-0-2.
- Both goalkeepers made six saves in net on the day as Andriski moves 249 saves on her career, seven away from moving into seventh for career saves as an Owl keeper. With her start today, she also tied Danielle Warhall (2013-16) and Marcia Pansuk (1981-94) with 52 games started in net for KSC.
- KSC moves to second place in the LEC with the win, even though both KSC and WCSU currently have 13 points, the Owls own the head-to-head tiebreaker.
- With one final regular season LEC game remaining, the Owls can finish the regular season anywhere from first to fourth in the conference. As long as the Owls win their last game, they will finish in either the first or second seed.
- Having been picked by the preseason coaches' poll to finish in ninth, the Owls have used the motivation to turn the season into success, but there is still work for KSC to finish the regular season strong.
Up Next
Keene State hits the road for their regular season finale as the Owls travel to take on Vermont State Castleton University on Wednesday, October 29, at 7:00 PM.
Western Connecticut is also on the road for their regular season finale as the Wolves travel to take on Fitchburg State University on Tuesday, October 28, at 6:00 PM. WestConn finishes off the LEC regular season with a 4-3-1 record and currently sits in third place.
