KEENE, N.H. – Back at the Owl Athletic Complex for the first time this season, the Keene State College women's lacrosse team hosted Emmanuel College on Wednesday night. Despite six goals from senior Tess Brown and a lead by as many as four goals, the Owls were unable to hold on in the end as KSC fell in overtime to the Saints, 13-12.

Records

• Keene State: 0-2
• Emmanuel: 1-1

Postgame Interview (Coach Wyant)

How it Happened
Despite not scoring in the season opener, it only took Tess Brown 44 seconds to find the back of the net in the home opener as she put the Owls ahead early in the contest. EC answered back a few minutes later and retook the lead as the Saints scored a pair of goals 53 seconds apart. KSC's goalkeeper Mabelle Bessette bounced back by making a free position shot save a few minutes later with KSC down two players with a pair of yellow cards, but KSC took advantage on the other side of the field as Lola Varricchione scored her first man-down goal of the game to tie the game up at two apiece. With 3:27 remaining in the first, Madeline Wright scored her second goal of the game for the Saints, but Brown also netted her second of the game later in the quarter on a man-up goal to tie the game up at three apiece heading into the second quarter.
 
Both goalies opened the second up with a pair of saves before Varricchione assisted Brown for her third goal of the game to retake the lead, 5:15 into the quarter. Brown continued to dominate on both sides of the field as her caused turnover led to the Owls' possession where KSC went up a pair with Anna Maccarini scoring her first goal of the season with 4:52 remaining in the opening half. 1:18 later the Saints pulled within a score with a free position goal, but the Owls responded right back with Hayden Smith assisting Riley Devine for her first goal of the season 25 seconds later. Before the opening half came to an end, Smith became the third consecutive Owl to score her first goal of the season on a man-up goal to give KSC a 7-4 lead into the half.
 
The Owls continued to capitalize on the man-up opportunity from the end of the first half to open the second half as Brown scored goal number four on a man-up free position goal as KSC doubled up EC, 8-4. With 10:12 remaining in the third, Ella Stein scored for the Saints, but Varricchione answered back 1:12 later from another man-down goal to increase the lead back to four. Although allowing their second man-down goal of the day, EC responded back with a pair of man-up goals over 10 seconds to cut KSC's lead to 9-7. Over the next three minutes both teams continued to pile on the goals with another apiece with Brown scoring her fifth goal of the day, this time a man-down goal from Varricchione, while EC kept the KSC lead to a pair with another man-up goal soon after. The Saints' goalie, Keira Walsh, made two more saves in goal the rest of the quarter, while Rylie Hogan scored on the other side of the field with 19 seconds left to bring the Saints within a goal heading into the last 15 minutes of regulation.
 
Madeline Wright opened the scoring for the Saints in the final quarter with a goal 1:48 into the fourth, but the Owls responded right back shortly after. Varricchione's caused turnover led to Devine's second goal of the game and a minute and a half later, following a turnover caused by Devine, led to Brown's goal with 10:11 remaining to retake a two-goal lead. Emmanuel pulled back within a goal with 5:46 remaining before Bessette answered back with a pair of saves while the Owls were a player down shortly after. With 3:14 remaining in the final quarter, Anna Nichols drew even for the Saints and the contest stayed tied the remainder of the regulation, sending the game to sudden-death overtime.
 
KSC did not even get a chance in the extra period as Avery Robillard won the opening draw control and then assisted on Emilia Ferraro's third goal of the game and OT winner, just 37 seconds into the period.
 
Inside the Crease

• With the defeat, KSC falls to 1-1 in the all-time series with the Saints after defeating Emmanuel in the first meeting, 14-10 in the 2024 season.
• Bessette bounced back from her tough start to open the season with eight saves on the day while Walsh also made eight saves in the contest.
• Brown recorded game-highs in points and goals, with her seven points coming from six goals and an assist.
• Brown also led the game with six draw controls and eight ground balls to go with her three caused turnovers.
• Varricchione and Devine led the day in caused turnovers as they each had four apiece.
• As the Owls' head coach Travis Wyant said postgame, the Owls struggled in transition with KSC going 12-for-22 (54.5%) on the day.

 
Up Next


Keene State hits the road for their next contest as the Owls travel to take on Western New England University on Saturday, March 7, at 1:00 PM.
Emmanuel is on the road for their next contest too as the Saints will take on Elms College on Saturday, March 7, at 3:15 PM.