Keene State Field Hockey took its first loss of the season in a 1-2 overtime heartbreaker against the University of New England (UNE).
The Sept. 28 matchup was played at UNE’s home turf in Biddeford, Maine and began with a strong offensive showing by the Nor’easters.
UNE got off two shots in quick succession just under two minutes into the first period, while KSC was able to make one shot after the three-minute mark.
Both teams quieted down for about seven minutes until the Nor’easters strung together another three shots within two minutes of each other. However, the period ended with neither team scoring.
The second period also proved uneventful, though both teams were handed green cards, and both teams made two shots, with no goals scored.
The third period was more of a battle on the offensive end, with the Owls and Nor’easters taking shots early on, but UNE hit its stride toward the end of the period. UNE midfielder Laney LeBlanc rocketed a shot past senior goalkeeper Clara Gorman for the first goal of the game, making the score 1-0 just before the period’s completion.
Despite the Nor’easters striking first, the Owls found success in the fourth period. After UNE unsuccessfully fired off two shots, one of which saved by Gorman, the team was able to go on the offensive with six minutes left in the period. Senior defender Hannah Wood, assisted by senior forward Irini Stefanakos, was able to tie things up and ultimately send the game into overtime.
KSC’s hopes were dashed quickly into the overtime period though, when UNE forward Madi Robito rang a shot into the net, ending the game 2-1 and marking the Owls’ first loss this year.
Keene State will face the University of Southern Maine next in their second Little East Conference matchup at home, on Saturday, Oct. 5.
Nathan Hope can be contacted at
nhope@kscequinox.com
