NASHUA, N.H. – Senior
Meghan Daileanes notched her third career hat trick to support a career-first collegiate victory for new Keene State College field hockey head coach
Leslie Smith as the Owls pounded Rivier University 9-2 on Tuesday night at Joanne Merrill Field in the season-opener for both teams.
Playing under the guidance of a new leader for the first time in nearly four decades following the retirement of longtime head coach Amy Watson and her 514 career victories, KSC (1-0) flew out of the gates, scoring four times in the opening 11:03 before building on a 5-2 halftime lead by scoring twice in 1:17 early in the third quarter to cement the runaway win. One game in and so far so good for Smith and the defending Little East Conference champion Owls, who aim to spread the wealth following the graduation of All-American
Grace Bazin and her 37 goals a season ago.
Keene State saw seven different players score, with Daileanes' fellow classmate and co-captain
Grace Seabury opening the scoring just 1:23 in as the Owls took a quick lead. But the goals came fast and furious from there, as that was only the first of five goals between the two teams before 12 minutes had elapsed. Rivier's Sophia Quinlan responded barely over two minutes later to even the score, but 1:31 later Daileanes potted her first to make it a 2-1 Owls lead.
Elyse Picard found
Emma Bazin just 1:07 after that to make it 3-1, and Daileanes assisted on sophomore
Lucy Dickenson's first goal of the season a little over four minutes later to make it a three-goal advantage for the visitors.
Beyond Smith's coaching debut and first collegiate head coaching victory after experience as an assistant at all three NCAA divisions following her playing career at the University of Michigan, there were several more Owl firsts, including a first career goal in her first collegiate game for
Henley Gilstrap as KSC took a 5-2 lead with 4:34 left in the opening half. The Owls would nurse that lead into the locker room, outshooting Rivier (0-1) 12-6.
Whatever doubt may have been left coming out of the locker room was quickly removed, as
Belle Hemond fired home a penalty stroke 4:19 into the third quarter to make it 6-2 before Seabury helped Daileanes' second goal of the night just 1:17 later. Hemond's marker was her first in an Owl uniform in 21 games, as the Assumption University transfer who also plays women's lacrosse registered a pair of assists a season ago. Daileanes completed the hat trick in the 44th minute, and the fun night for KSC in the opener ended with another fun bright spot as junior
Lilah Carr scored her first career collegiate goal.
Tori Kelly made five saves in her college debut, earning the win in the KSC cage. Olivia Faro allowed five goals for the Raiders and took the loss, playing the first and fourth quarters, while Tatum Flanagan made four saves in the middle two quarters for Rivier, who has been outscored 27-9 in four all-time meetings. The Raiders finished 5-14 including 3-7 in the GNAC last year, losing to eventual league champion Dean College 6-3 in the quarterfinals of the league tournament.
The Owls had a 24-10 shot advantage, though were minus-two in corner opportunities (9-7).
Keene State will host New England College in their home opener and what will be the Pilgrims' season-opener this Friday (September 4) at 6:00 p.m. Rivier travels to Framingham State University Thursday at 7:00 p.m.
