KEENE, N.H. – The freezing temps did not stop the crowd from showing up for the Keene State College men's lacrosse Owls4Owls contest against Western Connecticut State University on Tuesday night, but the Owls were unable to complete their late comeback as the Wolves spoiled the contest, defeating KSC 13-11.

Records

• Keene State: 6-5 (2-2 LEC)
• Western Connecticut: 9-3 (2-0 LEC)

Highlights
Postgame Interview (Coach Theriault)

How it Happened
WestConn got on the board early, scoring a goal 1:05 into the contest before the Owls' starting goalkeeper, Andrew Wiegand, bounced right back with three saves over the next minute, leading to Nicholas McNulty tying the game up for KSC shortly after. Wiegand continued to hold strong with four more saves over the next few minutes, including two during a minute penalty that KSC killed off. With 7:26 remaining in the opening quarter KSC took the lead for the first time in the contest as Ty Cougler forced his first of six turnovers in the contest leading to Austin Fitts recording his first career collegiate assist on Jack Ansart's first goal of the game. KSC was unable to kill off their next penalty though as WestConn scored a man-up goal as the 30 seconds penalty was expiring to tie the game back up at two apiece shortly after. 37 seconds later KSC retook the lead once again following Jack Ricci's faceoff win as Jake Dubiel scored to put the Owls back ahead a goal. Less than a minute later the Wolves once again tied the game up as Cody Suhr scored his first goal of the game. Wiegand tacked on one more save the rest of the quarter, bringing his total in the first to nine saves as the game went into the second tied at three apiece.
 
Jake Kelly made his first save of the day in goal for the Wolves to open the second quarter with KSC on a man-up opportunity, leading to WestConn retaking the lead on the other end of the floor shortly after, 1:16 into the second quarter. A few minutes later the Owls had an opportunity to draw even once again but WestConn killed it off and shortly after scored a pair of goals a minute a part to double KSC up 6-3 with 7:06 remaining in the first half. The Wolves continued to dominate the rest of the opening half as Suhr scored his third goal of the day with 3:50 remaining in the half and Kelly made two more saves to preserve the Wolves' 7-3 lead heading into the half.
 
After being outscored 4-0 over the second quarter, the Owls came back to score six goals and hold WestConn to two across the third quarter as Ricci won the opening faceoff and Cougler continued to dominate as he scored his fifth goal of the season just 18 seconds into the half to pull KSC back within three. The Owls got right back on the board shortly after as Ben Tukey assisted Ansart for his second goal of the game just 1:22 after Cougler's goal. Kelly bounced back by making a pair of saves in net for the Wolves, but the Owls did not go away just yet as Cole Ricardi caused a turnover leading to Aidan Donahue scoring to cut the lead to one with 7:56 remaining. WestConn won the ensuing faceoff, but they did not keep possession for long as Cougler caused a turnover and 23 seconds after Donahue's goal, McNulty scored his second goal of the game to tie the contest up at seven apiece for the Owls' fourth consecutive goal. Just over two minutes later the Wolves ended the Owls' scoring run with another goal to retake the lead. WestConn had an opportunity to increase their lead with a minute man-up chance shortly after, but KSC killed it off and tied the game up again as Jaheim Lancaster assisted Ansart for the go-ahead goal with 2:53 remaining in the third quarter. 80 seconds later KSC retook the lead once again as Caleb White assisted Tim Souza on his first goal in over a month after being out from an injury with 1:33 remaining in the third. Unfortunately for KSC, WestConn answered right back with a goal 20 seconds later to send the game into the fourth quarter tied at nine apiece.
 
Wiegand made a pair of saves over the first three minutes of the fourth quarter but following a shot from Lancaster hitting the post on the other side of the field, WestConn retook the lead with a pair of goals over the next minute to go up 11-9. Dylan Fadale caused his fourth turnover of the game for the Owls a few minutes later leading to Ricardi pulling KSC back within a goal with 5:49 remaining, but Suhr once again found the back of the net 46 seconds later to increase it back to a two-goal lead for WestConn. The Owls looked to have the momentum back on their side later in the quarter as a caused turnover from Dylan Seymour led to Nick Sullivan assisting Ansart for another goal with two minutes remaining to cut the lead back to one once again. Ricci won the ensuing faceoff for the Owls as they tried to pull even, but an offensive turnover by KSC threw their last chance away and the Wolves scored one more goal for the final dagger with a few seconds left to hold on to hand KSC the 13-11 defeat.
 
Inside the Crease

• With the loss KSC falls to 21-9 in the all-time series between the two teams with WestConn taking the seven most recent contests.
• Ansart led the Owls attack with four goals as he inches closer to his 100th career collegiate goal, bringing his career total to 95 goals.
• 12 different Owls recorded a point as seven different Owls scored a goal, and five others recorded an assist.
• Wiegand made 13 saves in net in the contest, while Kelly made just six.
• Cougler continued to rack up the caused turnovers and ground balls as he dominated on defense by recording a game-high six caused turnovers to go with his game-high nine ground balls.
• WestConn had the advantage on faceoffs as KSC was held to going 10-for-27 (37%).
• KSC was unable to capitalize on their four man-up opportunities, while WestConn went 1-for-5 (20%) on their chances.

 
Up Next


Keene State returns home for their next contest for Senior Day as the Owls host Plymouth State on Saturday, April 11, with Senior Day starting at 12:45 PM.
WestConn is on the road again for their next contest as they travel to take on Salem State University on Saturday, April 11, at 1:00 PM.