In a game that ended in thrilling fashion, the Keene State College Owls fell to the Plymouth State Panthers 4-2 on Saturday, handing the owls their fifth loss of the season.
It was a physical affair between the two squads as six total yellow cards were given out. While level for a time, the game’s scoring drought ended in the nineteenth minute with Plymouth State Senior Alex Herbert scoring on a shot that was well defended but took a strange deflection.
Following the goal, the KSC men struggled to capitalize on a hand full of possessions.
When asked about the first half, Keene State Owls Head Coach Rick Scott said, “We thought they out-worked us for some of the first half.”
In the second half the Owls would find the equalizer they were looking for, coming from the foot of sophomore Promise Kpee, netting his seventh goal of the season in the fifty-fourth minute.
With the game tied, the Panthers would retake the lead just four minutes later as goals from Plymouth State first-year players Micah Peterson and Juan Rivera would make the game 3-1.
While imposing their will with a newfound energy, the Owls’ hard work would pay off with Promise Kpee once again, scoring on a dazzling shot coming on a free kick opportunity in the seventy-eighth minute.
With the score 3-2, controversy would strike on a breakaway with Kpee looking to thread
Photo editor / Tim Smith
his third goal and tie the game for the Owls. In the final moments, Kpee lost the ball on a slide tackle close to the opposing goal. With Keene State fans calling for a penalty kick, the penalty call would never come from the officials, leaving the Owls out of time.
When asked about the controversial non-call after the game Coach Scott said it was “definitely” a penalty. He continued, “The referee had the whistle right to his mouth, I thought he was going to blow it, but he didn’t have the nerve to blow it. It should’ve been a penalty kick.”
Coach Scott touted his team’s effort. “I’m very proud of my team,” he said. “In the second half we just put on a clinic, they (his team) just worked, and worked, and worked. They never stopped and I’m really proud of them for that effort.”
Nick can be contacted at ntocco@kscequinox.com
