Field Hockey Falls to Keene State, 4-3, in Little East Semifinals

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Visiting Keene State College withstood a furious rally as the third-seeded Owls edged the number two seed Bridgewater State University Bears, 4-3, in the semifinal round of the 2012 Little East Conference Field Hockey Tournament at Swenson Field.

With the win, Keene State (15-7) advances to the Little East Championship Game for the 12th time since the tournament began in 1998.  The Owls will travel to top-seeded UMass Dartmouth to take on the Corsairs tomorrow afternoon at one.  UMass defeated #4 Plymouth State University, 3-2, in the other semifinal round contest.  Bridgewater slips to 17-3 on the season and will await word on a possible ECAC Tournament bid.

Keene State jumped out to a 3-0 lead on first half goals by freshman forward Lyndsie Rabenius (North Hampton, N.H.), sophomore forward Marisa Lemoine (Berlin, N.H.) and senior midfielder Alex Billert (Center Conway, N.H.).

BSU junior forward Demi Miskiv (Centerville, Mass.) cut the deficit to 3-1 just two minutes into the second half as she notched her 18th goal of the season off a scramble in front of the net.

Senior forward Kailin Billert (Center Conway, N.H.) reclaimed the three-goal advantage for the Owls in the 49th minute with her team-best 18th marker of the season.  Keene would take the 4-1 advantage into the final five minutes.

Senior midfielder Shelby Farland (Fiskdale, Mass.) started the Bears' late rally as she scored on a penalty stroke with 3:09 remaining in the contest.  Just over a minute later, Farland made it a 4-3 game as she notched her conference-leading and school record 32nd goal of the season off a penalty corner with the assists going to junior forward Carissa Vikakis (Bellingham, Mass.)

Bridgewater, however, would not get a shot off over the final two minutes as the visiting Owls escaped with the 4-3 victory.

Rabenius, Alex Billert and Kailin Billert each finished with a goal and an assist apiece to pace the Keene State offense.  Farland's two-goal effort led the way for the Bears.

Keene State came away with the win despite being outshot by a margin of 16-9.  The Owls, however, made the most of their limited opportunities scoring on four of their nine shots.  Bridgewater also held an 11-6 advantage in penalty corners.

Keene State sophomore goalkeeper Caitlin Davino-Draper (Hanover, Mass.) turned aside nine shots to post her 15th win of the season.  BSU junior netminder Kacie Sturgeon (Dartmouth, Mass.) made three stops between the pipes for the Bears.