KEENE, N.H. – Less than 24 hours after their last win, the Keene State College women's ice hockey team completed the weekend sweep for just the second time this season, this time due to an overtime game-winning goal from Brianna Finke to give the Owls the 2-1 win over New England College on Saturday night for the "Owls4Owls" contest.

Records

• Keene State: 8-10 (5-7-0 LEC)
• New England College: 5-13-0 (4-8-0 LEC)

How it Happened


Following the opening faceoff win by Ava Iantosca for the Owls, there was not another faceoff in the contest until 7:48 into the opening period. Over the opening 7:48, Anna McGinty made three saves for the Pilgrims, while over the next couple minutes, Makenna Montgomery made four saves in net for the Owls to keep the contest scoreless halfway through the opening period. 10:55 into the opening period, following a save by McGinty on Brianna Finke, the puck bounced loose to Ava Iantosca, who buried it into the back of the net to give KSC the 1-0 lead just over a sixth of the way through the contest. KSC continued to apply the pressure the next five minutes, but McGinty bounced back, making four saves to limit the Owls for the moment. After the previous contest saw nearly 20 penalties called, it was a good sign that the two teams went nearly the entire first period without a penalty. With 3:19 remaining in the first, KSC was called for their first penalty of the day, but the Owls easily killed it off without allowing a shot on target, holding onto the Owls 1-0 lead heading into the first intermission.
 
1:10 into the second, NEC was called for their first and eventually only penalty of the day and KSC tried to capitalize on the opportunity, but McGinty made seven saves over the 1:31 that KSC had the advantage, until the Iantosca was called for a penalty. It did not take long for the Pilgrims to capitalize on the extra-skater opportunity as 17 seconds after action moved to 5-on-4 in NEC's favor, Meadow Gilchrist found the back of the net, evening the contest up at one apiece. 5:13 into the second, KSC had a penalty called again for a two-minute minor, but they were unable to kill it off before another penalty was called as KSC was called for a five-minute major for boarding 7:04 into the period, giving NEC a 5-on-3 advantage for nine seconds and a 5-on-4 advantage for 4:51. Over the advantage for the Pilgrims, KSC locked down with Montgomery making 11 saves with her defense helping out as Ellie Patrick, Finke, and Iantosca each blocked a shot, helping kill the penalty off without a goal allowed. The rest of the period, KSC was on the attack for the majority of the time, but McGinty made seven more saves to hold the contest tied at one apiece heading into the third period.
 
Both goalies traded saves over the beginning of the third period with Montgomery making six and McGinty making five over the opening 10 minutes of the period. With 9:07 remaining, KSC was called for their eventual last penalty of the game, but Montgomery held strong making three saves to go with blocked shots from Loreli Norman and Caroline Demeo to kill off Emma McNeil's penalty for the Owls. For the next five minutes after the penalty was killed, Montgomery continued to hold her ground, making three more saves, to go with a pair of blocked shots from Patrick as the contest started to wind down to under two minutes remaining. In the final two minutes of regulations, KSC had a few great chances, but McGinty made five more saves to send the contest into overtime.
 
In the overtime period, after a brief opportunity for NEC, it was all KSC the rest of the way. The overtime period only lasted 2:22 until Keene Ice and all the other KSC student-athletes and fans in attendance heard the Owls' goal horn thanks to Finke weaving through the Pilgrims' defense and sending a shot past McGinty for the game-winner for the 2-1 win for the Owls.
 
Inside the Crease

• Keene State moves to 4-1 in the all-time series between the two teams, moving to 2-1 this season, following their 2-0 record against the Pilgrims in KSC's inaugural season.
• Finke's goal is her ninth of the season, while Iantosca's is her sixth of her sophomore season with both of their goals being their 21st goals of their collegiate careers, both program records for KSC.
• Montgomery made 32 saves in net for her first win of her sophomore season.
• KSC had the edge on faceoffs on the day, going 29-for-48 (60.4%) with Iantosca dominating the Pilgrims, going 20-for-25 (80%).
• Patrick and Iantosca both continued to lead the Owls in blocked shots with each having three blocked shots apiece in part of the Owls' 11 blocked shots in the contest.

 
Up Next
 
Keene State hits the road for their next contest at the University of Massachusetts-Boston on Friday, January 30 at 6:00 PM.
NEC next plays back at home for their next contest against No. 8 Norwich University, also on Friday, January 30, at 6:00 PM.