The Keene State Field Hockey team defeated Vermont State Castleton on Saturday, Nov. 9, crowning them the Little East Conference (LEC) champions for the 15th time in the program.
KSC field hockey made it to the championship game by winning the semi-final game on Thursday, Nov. 7, resulting in a 4-2 score against Plymouth State.
The Owls came out with determination to start the game, scoring three goals in the first quarter to create a serious lead over Castleton’s one point.
Although the first goal of the quarter was scored by the opposing team within the first few minutes, the Owls quickly came back. Two minutes later, the first goal was scored by sophomore Meghan Daileanes, unassisted. This was her 14th goal of the season, the second highest scorer of points for KSC’s team.
They didn’t stop there; at 9:59 junior Grace Bazin scored a point, assisted by first-year Anna Maccarini. This was Bazin’s 26th goal of the season, making herself the highest scorer on her team.
Continuing the scoring run in the first quarter, senior captain Molly Murray scored yet another point, assisted by sophomore Megan Goodwin, giving KSC a two point lead over the Spartans.
Nine total shots were taken by KSC in the first quarter as they fought for an even bigger lead, while VTSUC only managed to take four shots. KSC’s goalkeeper, junior Clara Gorman, saved one of those shots, the rest were either blocked or wide. While Castleton’s goalie, Zoe Martin saved the six shots that didn’t make it in.
The next two quarters were scoreless, each team fighting for the lead. In the second quarter, both teams only managed to take two shots each. Bazin received a green card a few minutes after the period started, as well as a penalty corner by senior Irini Stefanakos at 25:12.
The Spartans also had their fair share of penalty corners. Within the first four minutes, VTSUC got a penalty corner, as well as at 23:57 by the same player, Ariana Spiezo. Castleton’s Sarah Heath received a green card 20 seconds before the quarter ended.
The third quarter wasn’t much different than the second, but both teams still played on. KSC took three shots, all of which were saved by the opposing goalkeeper, the first being at 31:05 by Stefanakos. The Spartans managed another two shots this quarter, both of which were in the first five minutes of the quarter, but both were unsuccessful.
KSC suffered two penalty corners almost back to back, one by Murray at 35:55 and one by Stefanakos at 36:05. VTSUC received three penalty corners in this quarter, all by Spiezo.
The last quarter is when the Spartans finally succeeded in scoring another point, after three more penalty corners by Spiezo and an attempt at goal, saved by Gorman. At 47:54, Castleton’s Ava Laross scored a point against the Owls, assisted by Gwyn Vincent and Jess Smithson.
This left 12 minutes left in the game, and a large opportunity for the Spartans to come back with only a one point disadvantage, but even with their numerous attempts at getting a goal, the one made by Laross was the only one to make it in the last quarter.
The Owls focused on defense, only attempting to score once in that quarter. The Owls stayed aggressive, and within the last two minutes of the game, they received three yellow cards, having to play shorthanded for the remaining minutes. They remained determined until the last second, winning 3-2 and making them the LEC champions.
The Spartans were just as aggressive. 10 more penalty corners were given by Spiezo. They also managed to take seven shots on goal that quarter.
Gorman made five saves this game, ensuring the Owls’ victory by protecting her goal. She has had 56 saves total, rounding her save percentage to 0.7%.
With this victory, the Owls have made it into the first round of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tournament.
Hayley Doda can be contacted at
hdoda@kscequinox.com
