KEENE, N.H. – Most of the seniors on the Keene State College women's lacrosse team were probably not thinking of beating Plymouth State University the last time the Owls took down PSU back in 2016 when they were all back in sixth grade, but on their Senior Day at home, the Owls' senior class of 2026 took the lead 33 seconds into the contest and the Owls ate well, coming away with the 12-10 victory in the crucial Little East Conference matchup.

Records

• Keene State: 6-9 (3-3 LEC)
• Plymouth State: 5-9 (3-4 LEC)

How it Happened


For the second consecutive contest, Lola Varricchione got the Owls on the board early scoring 33 seconds into the contest, to give KSC the early lead, but PSU answered right back with Karina Bosco's first goal of the game 45 seconds later to tie the game back up. The Panthers looked to take their first lead of the day after winning the ensuing draw control, but a caused turnover from Hayden Smith led to Tess Brown's first of four goals on the day, 62 seconds after Bosco's goal to put KSC back ahead. A few minutes later PSU tied the game back up after a card was called on KSC, leading to a man-up goal for Bosco's second goal of the game. After senior goalkeeper Mabelle Bessette made a save on the next shot that she faced in goal, Helen Baxter's caused turnover on a PSU clear attempt led to Smith assisting Devine for a goal on her Senior Day to put KSC ahead by one with 5:37 left in the first. PSU once again tied the game up at three with 3:30 left in the opening quarter, but 80 seconds later Anna Maccarini scored to put the Owls back ahead and then caused a turnover late in the quarter to get the Owls possession heading into the second quarter.
 
Caitlin Snow made a save in net for the Panthers on the opening possession for KSC in the second but following Brown causing a turnover on a PSU clear attempt, Maccarini found the back of the net again to put the Owls up by two. KSC kept the goals coming with a pair of goals less than a minute apart soon after as Smith assisted Varricchione for the goal and after Varricchione won the ensuing draw control, number 17 Devine scored her 17th goal of the season to put KSC ahead 7-3. Following a save in net by Katelyn Nicotera after entering in the second quarter, KSC added their fifth consecutive goal as a caused turnover from Kayln Arnold led to Helen Baxter assisting Brown for another goal to put KSC up by five with 7:43 remaining in the first half. PSU stopped the Owls' scoring run with a pair of goals in the final five minutes of the half, but after Nicotera saved a late free position shot in goal for the Owls, Smith scored her 26th of the season to put the Owls ahead 9-5 heading into the half.
 
The Panthers came out looking to pull even in the second half as they scored 44 seconds into the third quarter and added another goal four and a half minutes later on another man-up chance, to pull back within a pair. A minute later Smith was called for a yellow card, but KSC was the one capitalizing, despite a player down as Maccarini caused a turnover and following a KSC timeout, Brown scored the man-down goal to put KSC back ahead three with 8:14 remaining in the third. Bosco scored a pair of goals for the Panthers to cut KSC's lead back to one for the first time since early in the second quarter, but after it looked like Sammy Murphy tied the game up at 10 apiece with under a minute remaining in the third, the ball stayed just off the goal line and the Owls took their one-goal lead into the final 15 minutes of regulation.
 
PSU opened the final quarter with possession after a turnover late in the third by KSC, but Brown got the ball right back for KSC and immediately capitalized as she caused a turnover on defense and then scored the first goal of the fourth on offense to put KSC back up a pair. Despite her shot just missing late in the third quarter, Murphy found the back of the net eventually in the fourth as she scored a free position goal with 8:08 left on the clock to cut KSC's lead to just one again. Fortunately for the Owls, Varricchione won the ensuing draw control and after an assist from Smith, found the back of the net to answer right back with 6:47 remaining in the contest. The rest of the way PSU was unable to even get a shot off on goal as the Owls locked the Panthers down by causing four more turnovers for the 12-10 win.
 
Inside the Crease

• With the win, KSC improves to 11-34 in the all-time series against the Panthers, ending the 12-game and 10 year losing streak to PSU.
• Brown continued to climb in the record books as she tied for the game-high four points, tying Bosco with a game-high four goals in the victory. Brown moved into fourth place with her four goals, bringing her career total to 168 and breaking the tie with Jamie Albert (2008-11). With her four points, Brown broke the tie with Kaitlin Nolan (2013-2016) for fifth place in career points with 235 career points, bringing her career total to 239 (168 goals, 71 assists).
• Brown also had a game-high seven caused turnovers, leading the 10 different Owls with a caused turnover on the day, totaling 25 as a team, combined to just 12 from PSU. Her eight ground balls were yet another game high.
• Smith also recorded a game-high four points coming from her goal and game-high three assists.
• Bessette takes home the win on her Senior Day in net, while Nicotera also made six saves in net for KSC.
• Devine led KSC with four draw controls, while Varricchione was close behind with three.
• Following a 10-for-21 (47.6%) day on clears in the last contest, the Owls improved, going 15-for-21 (71.4%), while also limiting PSU to going 17-for-31 (54.8%) on clears.

 
Up Next


Keene State rounds out their 2026 regular season home schedule by hosting Vermont State Castleton University in their next contest on Wednesday, April 22, at 6:30 PM.
Plymouth State also plays their next contest on Wednesday, April 22, but at 6:00 PM as the Panthers have their final nonconference game of the 2026 season on the road at Framingham State University.