Keene State Women’s Ice Hockey won against the Pilgrims of New England College (NEC) in a chippy 3-1 game at Keene Ice on Friday, Jan. 23. The Owls entered the game after a disastrous away series against Norwich University, losing the two games 0-10 and 0-4. The Pilgrims arrived after splitting a series with Vermont State University Castleton.
The first period opened slowly for both teams, with Keene State registering the first pair of shots two minutes into the period. The Pilgrims followed up with a shot of their own, trading a few shots through the opening minutes. Six minutes into the first, NEC was assessed a minor penalty for hooking, and the Owls went on their first of many power plays. In a pattern that would repeat, Keene State was ineffective on the two minute power play, putting a single shot on goal. Following a scuffle behind the net halfway through the period, Keene State and NEC were assessed minor penalties for roughing and slashing respectively, sending the game to a four-on-four contest. Both teams killed off the penalties, only facing two shots each. Keene State received another two power plays, but failed to capitalize on them before the Owls were assessed a tripping penalty to send the game to four-on-four again. Concluding the period, NEC was assessed a double minor penalty that continued into the second. Keene State dominated the scoreless period on shots, outshooting the Pilgrims 19-8.
The second period began with a nearly four minute long powerplay for Keene State that ended fruitlessly. Midway through the powerplay, a controversial icing call was issued, with one linesman waving off the icing while a referee blew the play dead. Shortly after the game returned to even strength, the Owls struck first with a goal by first-year forward Loreli Norman. Norman was assisted by sophomore defense Caroline Demeo and sophomore forward Ellie Patrick for their second and seventh assists of the season respectively. The goal was Norman’s first of her collegiate career. Four minutes into the period, the Owls received their first penalty for too many men on the ice. The penalty was cut short when NEC was issued a minor penalty for boarding. Keene State and NEC received another two power plays, with each having one cut short by another penalty ending or beginning.
The third period began with a second too many men penalty assessed on the Owls, putting NEC on the power play. The Pilgrims were quick to strike back, scoring from right between the circles to even the game at 1-1. Not to be outdone, first-year forward Emerson Spinale put one away on a breakaway with two Pilgrim defenders trailing behind her. The unassisted goal was Spinale’s third of the season. With 12 minutes left in the game, Keene State was assessed a penalty for body checking, putting NEC on its sixth power play. Turning the tables, sophomore forward Brianna Finke poked the puck past a poor goaltender play to score Keene State’s third of the game. The shorthanded goal was Finke’s eighth of the season. Finke was assisted by sophomore forward Ava Iantosca, her seventh assist of the season.
Sophomore goaltender Ai Chung allowed only one goal on 41 shots, the majority of which came in the second and third periods. Penalties dominated the game, with 19 penalties assessed, 10 for the Pilgrims and nine for the Owls. Despite going on the power play ten times, the Owls did not score once with a man advantage and went 0 for 10.
With the win, the Owls move to 7-10-0, 4-7-0 in the Little East Conference. The following night on Jan. 24, the Owls secured their second straight win over New England College in a 2-1 overtime victory. The Owls next hit the ice away in Boston, playing the University of Massachusetts-Boston on Jan. 30.
Frank LeBlanc can be contacted at
fleblanc@kscequinox.com
