Box Score

HENNIKER, N.H. – After entering the third period with a 2-0 lead, the Keene State College women's ice hockey team allowed a pair of goals in the final 10 minutes of regulation to New England College, and a turnover on defense during overtime led to the Owls dropping the contest 3-2 on the road.

Records

• Keene State: 3-2 (1-2 LEC)
• NEC: 2-3 (1-2 LEC)

How it Happened


Neither team scored over the opening 20 minutes of action as both goaltenders combined for 20 saves in the first. Over the first 10 minutes of the opening half, Kayden Lallier-Whissel
 Made five saves in net for the Pilgrims, while Abby Tanner made three saves in net for KSC to keep the game scoreless early on. Lallier-Whissel made three more saves over the next three minutes, making six consecutive saves for NEC to do her part to keep the Pilgrims in the contest. In the final 5:20 minutes of the opening period, Tanner made five more saves for KSC, while there were four blocked shots by the Owls' defense, including a pair by Ellie Patrick, to keep the score scoreless heading into the first intermission.
 
Kayden Lallier-Whissel saved the first shot she saw to open the second period, but 1:06 into the second, Brianna Finke tallied goal number four of the season to put KSC ahead 1-0. 3:08 later, the Owls had their first power play of the day, but Kayden Lallier-Whissel made three saves and Ava Iantosca's shot hit the pipe as they were unable to capitalize on the opportunity. 6:59 into the second NEC had their first power play opportunity of the day, but just like Lallier-Whissel, Tanner made three saves and the Pilgrims came away from the opportunity empty handed. Following a few more saves by each tender, with 7:38 remaining in the second, NEC had another opportunity for an extra skater. NEC only recorded one shot over 1:12 of the penalty, before another penalty was called against KSC, giving NEC a 5-on-3 advantage for 48 seconds. The Owls held their ground and saved the only shot that they faced to kill off the first of the two penalties. With a minute still remaining on the Pilgrims' advantage, NEC was called for a penalty, bringing the contest to 4-on-4 for a minute, before giving KSC a skater advantage for the following minute. Over the minute of each 4-on-4 and a skater advantage for the Owls, KSC only recorded a shot on goal that was saved by Lallier-Whissel. NEC kept trying to draw even in the final few minutes of the second as Tanner was forced to make five more saves and Iantosca blocked a pair of shots. With 46 seconds left, Loreli Norman blazed past the Pilgrims' defense and drew Lallier-Whissel out of her crease, but Norman sent a pass across to Emma McNeil who buried her first goal of the season to put the Owls ahead by two heading into the final period.
 
The Owls' head coach Rob Morgan raved about KSC's second goal of the "Really nice conversion on our 2nd goal that started from our zone with a clean breakout, leading to Loreli completely freezing the goalie and feeding a beautiful pass to Micky for a backdoor tap in"
 
Both goaltenders traded three saves to open the first five minutes of the third and once again over the next following five minutes, Lallier-Whissel made three more saves and Tanner made three more for KSC to preserve the KSC lead. NEC continued to apply the pressure as the third period went on to try to draw even and eventually after another save by Tanner, Meadow Gilchrist brought the Pilgrims within a goal by scoring with 7:22 remaining in the contest. 26 seconds later the Pilgrims found the back of the net once again to tie the game up at two apiece after Alexis Hornsby scored her second of the year. A minute later KSC another power play opportunity but they were unable to capitalize as both of their shots throughout the advantage were blocked by a defender. With 3:38 remaining in the contest KSC had yet another power play and called a timeout to regroup to try to come away with the win in regulation, but a save from Lallier-Whissel and three blocked shots killed the penalty off again for NEC. Both goalies made a save in the closing 1:10 to send the contest into overtime tied at two apiece.
 
NEC picked up right where they left off in the overtime period as Tanner made a pair of saves in the first 36 seconds, but just over a minute later, Hornsby found the back of the net again for the game-winner for the 3-2 comeback win over KSC.
 
"Abby was strong in net, have us a chance to win. Our defense is showing improvement in breaking pucks out vs pressure that allowed us to create some good chances off the rush," said Morgan. "Really nice conversion on our 2nd goal that started from our zone with a clean breakout, leading to Loreli completely freezing the goalie and feeding a beautiful pass to Micky for a backdoor tap in."
 
"Our PP was very ineffective, we need to get better at our execution… and that starts with outcompeting the PK, that did not happen today," Morgan said on the Owls going 0-for-4 on the power play opportunities. "The Pilgrims were the better team over 60 minutes, their best players led the way and deserved the win. We will be better tomorrow."
 
Inside the Crease

• Tanner made 36 saves on the day, while Lallier-Whissel made 33 for NEC.
• NEC had the advantage on faceoffs, as KSC went 21-for-53 (40%) and Hornsby went 18-for-26 (69%).
• Finke tallied her fourth goal of the season for the Owls in the contest.
• Iantosca, Mallory Stuart, and Patrick all led the Owls with a pair of blocked shots apiece, while the team finished with 10 blocked shots.
• Both teams had five shots across their power play opportunities, despite KSC having double the opportunities with four, compared to NEC only having a pair of extra skater chances.

 
Up Next
 
Keene State returns home for their next contest on Saturday, November 15, at 7:00 PM against the University of Massachusetts-Boston.
NEC continues in LEC play on the road in their next contest on the road at Norwich University on Saturday, November 15, at 3:00 PM.