KEENE, N.H. – Freshman goalie
Natalie Merrick (East Longmeadow, Mass.) made a career-high 21 saves, but it wasn't enough as Plymouth State University fell to Keene State College, 7-0, in a Little East Conference field hockey game at Owl Athletic Complex on Saturday afternoon.
The hosts got their offense working early as they fired nine shots on the Panthers' cage. Merrick and the PSU defense stood tall, but the Owls got two past them for a 2-0 lead after the first quarter.
The Panther offense came alive in the second quarter, firing six shots on net. Seniors
Ellie Monahan (Watertown, Mass.) and
Katie Porrello (Milford, Conn.) nearly connected for Plymouth State near the end of the second, but the KSC defense was stellar – turning the missed opportunities into transition offense – as the Owls led 5-0 at the half.
The second half proved to be more of the same. PSU kept the Owls off the scoreboard in the third quarter, but the hosts added two more in the fourth to account for the final score.
Plymouth State drops to 4-5 (0-1 LEC), while the Owls improve to 9-3 (2-0 LEC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 0, Keene State 7
- Plymouth State (4-5, 0-1 LEC)
- Keene State (9-3, 2-0 LEC)
How it Happened:
- The Owls had their offense rolling early, firing nine shots on net.
- Merrick and the PSU defense cleared away all but two of those chances.
- Keene State held a 2-0 lead after the first quarter.
- PSU's offense got going in the second, finishing with six shots on target.
- Monahan and Porrello nearly buried one, but it was turned away.
- PSU couldn't solve the Keene State defense as the Owls led 5-0 at the half.
- Though the field was tilted in the Owls' favor in the third, Plymouth State's defense kept them off the board.
- KSC added two insurance goals in the fourth to account for the final score.
By the Numbers:
- Merrick made a career-high 21 saves on the afternoon.
- Monahan fired a team-high three shots on net.
- Keene State leads the all-time series, 40-14. PSU's last win in the series came in the 2019 season.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State hosts Thomas College on Tuesday (Oct. 7) in a 4:00 p.m. game as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Day.
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