PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Less than 48 hours ago, the Keene State College field hockey team battled deep into overtime and nearly pulled off a road upset of a nationally-ranked team. The Owls surely saw it as a sign of progress as they build the program into a new era under first year head coach
Leslie Smith. That still very much might be the case, though KSC will want to forget what happened on this first Friday of October, as Plymouth State University pulled off a stunning 2-1 upset at Panther Field in Little East Conference action.
The Panthers (2-8, 1-0 LEC) entered with just one win on the season and had allowed five or more goals in five of their nine games entering the day, but outside of a goal by
Lucy Dickenson 25 seconds into the fourth quarter, KSC (7-4, 1-1 LEC) was shut out as PSU goalkeeper Natalie Merrick stopped 13 of 14 shots.
Plymouth played with a lead for all but five minutes, as Ellie Monahan opened the scoring 5:11 in after slipping behind
Belle Hemond unmarked. Lexi Berrettini notched the first of her two assists off the pass that sent in Monahan nearly alone, as PSU capitalized off a restart beyond the top of the circle.
Keene State fell into a 2-0 hole 1:14 before halftime, as they were unable to get the ball out of danger in a similar area just beyond the top of the circle. Berrettini again passed in front as Amelia Avery notched her second goal of the season. After a first quarter that saw just two shots apiece from each team, KSC surrendered nine in the second quarter, with first year goalkeeper
Tori Kelly making seven stops until the final try got past her. The Owls came up empty on seven first half corners.
KSC held Plymouth to only five shots and had a 16-5 advantage in shots over the final 30 minutes, but Merrick made nine saves to keep the Owls at bay. Keene State's lone goal came off a second chance opportunity, as Merrimack made an initial stop on Dickinson, but the fall found
Lilah Carr, who passed back to Dickinson right in front and she did not miss a second time.
Down 2-1, an equalizer never came for the Owls as Merrick made four saves over the final eight minutes – most of the time with KSC having an empty cage.
Meghan Daileanes stopped twice down the stretch as the Owls developed chances from their possession but did not get any corners over the final 16:46.
KSC finished with a 24-16 edge in shots overall and had 10 of 17 corners but were limited to fewer than two goals for the third time this season.
Kelly finished with eight saves in 52:48.
The Owls, who had opened conference play with a 7-0 victory at home over the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth September 19, saw a 10-game winning streak against Plymouth end in a series they lead 35-11-1. KSC pummeled the Panthers 7-0 in Keene a season ago.
Keene State played the final of four consecutive road games Tuesday (October 6) when they visit the University of New England (4-5, 2-1 CNE) at 5:00 p.m. The Nor'easters, against a tough early slate, have generated fewer than ten shots in six of their nine games but also allow just two goals per game (getting outscored 18-13 in total).
