Westfield State University
Junior Taylor Farland led the Keene State College (KSC) women’s lacrosse team to victory as she had her career-high on Tuesday, March 28 at the Owl Athletic Complex. The Owls picked up the first win of the season over Westfield State, 14-8.
Westfield scored and was the first team to get points up on the board with an unassisted goal from Sam Coyle. First-year Gabby Smith quickly reacted with a wrap around goal for KSC with 22:32 left in the first half. Farland gave KSC a one-point advantage when she found the back of the net just three minutes later.
Jacob Paquin/ Equinox Staff
Westfield’s Marissa Nimeskern connected a pass from Alexa Tonelli to even the score. Farland converted back-to-back free position chances to give the Owls a two-point lead, right before KSC first-year Tess Masci put away a bobble in the box. Smith sent the ball to sophomore Chelsea Lewis who shot the ball to the back of the net, increasing Keene State’s lead by four, 6-2. Westfield cut the lead to three when Coyle shot past KSC in the last minute of the half. As the two teams went into the break, Keene State remained on top 6-3.
Back-and-forth goals opened up the second half of the game with Keene State maintaining a three-point lead, bringing the score to 9-6.
Smith found the back of the net that lit up KSC’s offense. Keene State had a 5-0 run with three from Lewis, pushing Keene State’s lead to eight. Westfield scored twice in the final minute of the game for a final score of 14-8, KSC.
Western Connecticut State University
The Keene State women’s lacrosse team coasted to a Little East Conference (LEC) victory over Western Connecticut State University on Saturday, April 1 at the Owl Athletic Complex.
Both teams were tied at one for the opening 10 minutes of the game. KSC grabbed a two-point advantage after senior Taylor Graf found the net with an assist from junior Taylor Farland. Junior Tori Weinstock scored her first goal of the game off a pass from first-year Gabby Smith. The Colonials quickly reacted with a goal from Lauren Bradshaw to get them within one.
Keene State shot back-to-back goals from Graf and sophomore Chelsea Lewis to extend the KSC lead to three with 5:51 left on the clock. Western struck in the final seconds, leaving Keene State in the lead by two at the half.
Western came out scoring the first goal of the second half, right before Keene State ignited a 4-1 run with a hat-trick from Farland and a goal from senior Kelly Chadnick to maintain their lead 9-5, KSC.
Western scored another goal, getting them close before Keene State had three unanswered goals from Weinstock, Farland and Chadnick, giving the Owls their greatest advantage, 12-6 with 7:19 left in the game.
Western would only shoot one more free position goal from Amber Andrews, as Farland scored the final goal to seal the win for the Keene State Owls.
Shelby Iava can be contacted at Ssiava@kscequinox.com
