KEENE, N.H. – Graduate student
Alessia Salzillo (Saugus, Mass.) and senior
Mackenzie Labrie (Canaan, N.H.) scored second-quarter goals to give third-seeded Plymouth State University a 2-1 halftime lead over second-seeded Keene State College, but the Owls rallied with two second-half goals to squeak past PSU, 3-2, in the semifinals of the Little East Conference (LEC) Field Hockey Tournament at Owl Athletic Complex on Thursday.
Plymouth State ends the season with a 12-6 record, while Keene State improves to 13-8 and advances to face top-seeded Southern Maine in Saturday's championship game.
The hosts got on the board first just past the halfway point of the first quarter for the early 1-0 lead. Early in the second quarter, freshman
Sarah Adamske (Windham, N.H.) inserted the ball during a penalty corner. It was stopped quickly by junior
Jenna Stowell (Londonderry, N.H.) and Salzillo came in to fire the ball into the top left corner of the cage to knot the game at 1-1.
Only 21 seconds later, PSU marched down the field and Stowell fired a shot on goal. Labrie pounced on the rebound to give the Panthers the 2-1 lead.
Keene State tied it towards the end of the third quarter to set up the dynamic finish. Late in the fourth, the Owls fired a tomahawk shot from just inside the shooting circle that found its way past senior
Kayla Antonucci (Windham, N.H.) for the 3-2 lead. PSU pressed for the equalizer but came up empty handed as the Owls held on for the win.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 2, Keene State 3
- Plymouth State (12-6)
- Keene State (13-8)
How it Happened:
- The Owls struck first halfway through the first quarter for the early 1-0 lead.
- The Panthers tied it when Salzillo fired a shot to the top left corner of the cage on a penalty corner.
- Just 21 seconds later, PSU took the lead on Labrie's goal off a Stowell rebound.
- Antonucci and the Panthers' defense were rock solid, turning away Keene State's offense.
- PSU nearly extended the margin before halftime, but the KSC goalie made a great save to keep it a one-score game.
- With 3:23 left in the third the Owls tied it at 2-2.
- PSU stole the momentum back and continued to push up field.
- Plymouth State's defense came up big at the end of the third to keep the game tied heading into the final stanza.
- The Owls took the lead late in the fourth when they fired a shot past Antonucci for the 3-2 lead.
- Keene State was able to hold on for the win.
By the Numbers:
- Healey finishes the season with 25 goals and nine assists, leading the team in both categories. Her 57 career goals and 136 career points both rank third in program history.
- Salzillo scored her fifth goal of the season.
- Stowell had two assists in the setback.
- Labrie scored her 14th goal of the season, tied with senior Athena Comeau (Rutland, Mass.) for second on the team.
- PSU outshot Keene State 14-8, and 8-6 in shots on goal.
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