The Owls traveled up north to Plymouth, N.H. on Saturday, Oct. 12, to take on conference rival the Plymouth State Panthers and left with a victory.
Keene State, riding on back-to-back wins including a conference win against the University of Southern Maine, came into this matchup 11-2 on the season, with Plymouth State coming in at 5-5.
The Owls had a flat start, finding themselves in a two-goal deficit less than 17 minutes into play as a result of Plymouth’s Alessia Salzillo and Jess Couture finding the back of the net. However, the momentum shifted when KSC junior forward Kalina Piasecki scored with only four and a half minutes remaining until halftime.
First-year goalkeeper Katelyn Nicotera replaced junior goalkeeper Clara Gorman after Plymouth’s second goal, who went on to make three huge saves to keep the game at a one-goal difference. The Owls went into the break seeming to have control of the game, regardless of the score.
Something was said to the Owls at the half, as they came out and dominated the third quarter. Keene State had chance after chance but could not connect, until senior midfielder Molly Murray tied the game on her seventh goal of the season. Just over two minutes later, Piasecki buried her second goal of the game to give the Owls the lead late in the third quarter.
Plymouth State came out firing in the fourth quarter, outshooting the Owls eight to one. Nicotera made save after save, including a four-save spree in a span of 12 seconds, denying any chance that the Panthers could conjure up.
Keene State was able to hold on for the remaining time in the fourth quarter, defeating their conference rival for the eighth straight time with a final score of 3-2.
This win improves the Owls to 12-2 on the season, and 3-0 in conference play. Keene State’s next game is on Saturday, Oct. 19 at 12p.m., as they return home to take on LEC opponent Western Connecticut State University.
Teddy Steinberg can be contacted at
tsteinberg@kscequinox.com
