KEENE, N.H. – In their second game in five days the Keene State College women's lacrosse returned home on Thursday afternoon to host the University of Hartford, but Kate Zonin tallied eight goals to spoil the Owls' day where Tess Brown became the eighth member in program history to reach the 200 career point mark as Hartford defeated the Owls 13-7.

Records

• Keene State: 0-5
• Hartford: 2-3

How it Happened


Both teams traded a pair of goals to open up the contest as Hartford struck first and after the Hawks won the ensuing faceoff, Lola Varricchione caused a turnover leading to her assisting Anna Maccarini's first goal of the day for KSC shortly after. 1:52 later following the Owls' first green card of the day, Kate Zonin scored her first of eight goals for the Hawks on a man-up goal, but Tess Brown recorded career point number 198 on an assist to Maccarini to tie the game up once again early on. It only took 3:20 after her 198th point for Brown to record career point number 199 as she caused a turnover that led to her eventually assisting Varricchione's goal to give the Owls the 3-2 win with 6:14 remaining in the first. Neither team found the back of the net the rest of the opening quarter as KSC's goalkeeper made her second save of the quarter to preserve the Owls' lead heading into the second quarter.
 
The Hawks came out of the gates hot in the second quarter to retake the lead as they scored three goals in 2:37 to go up 5-3 thanks to three goals (including a man-up goal) from Zonin. Sandwiched between a pair of saves shots from Nicotera halfway through the quarter, including one on a free position save, the Owls pulled within one as Helen Baxter assisted Riley Devine for her third goal of the season with 7:14 remaining in the half. Nicotera made another pair of saves over a minute span later in the quarter, including another on a free position attempt, but Sara Costa broke through with a shot into the back of the net to give Hartford a 6-4 lead heading into the half.
 
After both teams traded possessions back-and-forth to open the second half, Hartford struck first on a free position goal to increase their lead to three with 8:38 remaining in the quarter. Brown won the ensuing draw control and following a card on Hartford and a save by the Hawks' goalie, Mandi Rivard, Brown was able to fire a shot past her for her 200th career point on a man-up goal to pull back within a pair. Brown won the ensuing draw control and 1:37 later picked up career point 201 as she assisted Varricchione for another man-up goal for the Owls to pull within a goal with 6:07 remaining in the third quarter. The game did not stay within a goal for long as Zonin capitalized on a pair of green cards against the Owls a minute and a half later to go back up a pair. Both goalies made a save the rest of the third as the Hawks took their 8-6 lead into the final 15 minutes of regulation.
 
Hartford capitalized on the Owls green card at the end of the third immediately in the fourth as Courtney Ingham scored 23 seconds into the quarter to increase the lead to three. The Owls were back within two goals a couple of minutes later as Hayden Smith scored a free position goal for her second goal of the season, but a minute and 11 seconds later after Zonin won the ensuing draw control, Hartford scored again. The rest of the contest the Owls were unable to get the attack going and with Nicotera out of the crease to apply pressure on the Hawks' attackers, Zonin tacked on three more goals and Hartford came away with the 13-7 victory.
 
Inside the Crease

• With the defeat, KSC falls to 3-1 in the all-time series between the two teams as the Owls fall to the Hawks for the first time.
• Brown became the eighth member in program history to reach the 200 career point mark as she currently sits at 201 career points from 142 goals and 59 assists.
• Nicotera made nine saves in net for KSC, while Rivard made eight for the Hawks.
• Maccarini and Varricchione both tallied a pair of goals for the Owls, while Varricchione also added another point from an assist.
• Brown recorded a season-high eight caused turnovers in the contest as she surpassed the 200 career caused turnover mark, as well, becoming just the second member in program history to reach the milestone.
• The Owls continued to struggle on clears as KSC went 13-for-23 (56.5%) on clears compared to Hartford going 15-for-19 (78.9%).
• Both teams went 10-for-20 (50%) on draw controls on the day with Brown leading KSC with four, while Devine and Varricchione both had three apiece.

 
Up Next


Keene State hits the road for their first of five consecutive road games as the Owls kick off Little East Conference play on Saturday, March 14, at 12:00 PM at Rhode Island College.
Hartford also kicks off conference action in their next contest as the Hawks host the Wentworth Institute of Technology on Tuesday, March 17, at 3:00 PM for their next game.