KEENE, N.H. – Graduate student
Alessia Salzillo (Saugus, Mass.) scored her third goal of the year and senior
Taylor Healey (Campton, N.H.) notched her 11th of the season, but Plymouth State University fell to Keene State College, 4-2, in a Little East Conference (LEC) field hockey game at Owl Athletic Complex on Friday evening.
PSU came out firing and Healey gave the Panthers an early lead just 3:19 into the game. Keene State answered back at the 7:09 mark to even the score and the hosts took a 2-1 lead into halftime after finding a hole in the Panthers' defense and slipping a shot past senior goaltender
Kayla Antonucci (Windham, N.H.) early in the second quarter.
The Owls increased their lead midway through the third when they stole a ball near midfield and came in on a rush. The play was stopped by the Panthers' defense, but KSC scooped up the loose ball and scored to take a 3-1 lead.
PSU cut the deficit to one on a penalty corner when junior
Jess Couture (Dover, N.H.) inserted the ball to Healey, who left it for Salzillo, and she sent a missile through traffic into the left side of the cage. The Panthers nearly tied the game moments later, but an early whistle negated the scoring chance.
Keene State took the PSU momentum away for good shortly after, when the two-goal lead was restored and the Owls held on the rest of the way for the 4-2 win.
Plymouth State drops to 6-3 (1-1 LEC), while Keene State improves to 8-5 (2-1 LEC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 2, Keene State 4
- Plymouth State (6-3, 1-1 LEC)
- Keene State (8-5, 2-1 LEC)
How it Happened:
- Healey got PSU on the board first with her 11th of the season just 3:19 into the contest.
- The Owls answered back at 7:09 to knot the game at 1-1.
- Keene State added another goal in the second quarter to take a 2-1 lead into halftime.
- Midway through the third quarter, KSC added an insurance marker to make it 3-1.
- Plymouth State answered back late in the third on a penalty corner when Salzillo scored her third of the season.
- The Panthers nearly tied it moments later, but a whistle stopped the play.
- Keene State took advantage of its next opportunity to restore the two-goal lead.
- PSU kept pushing to cut into the deficit but couldn't get one past the KSC defense.
By the Numbers:
- Healey extended her team lead with her 11th goal of the year.
- Salzillo fired her third of the season.
- Keene State had a 13-8 advantage in shots on goal.
- PSU held a narrow advantage in penalty corners (8-7).
- Antonucci finished with nine saves.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State returns home to face Thomas College on Tuesday (Oct. 10) at 4:00 p.m.
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