Field Hockey Drops 5-1 Decision to Little East Opponent Keene State

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – The Keene State College field hockey team remained unbeaten in Little East Conference (LEC) play as the visiting Owls defeated host Bridgewater State University, 5-1, on Sunday afternoon at Swenson field.

The Owls improve to 5-4 on the season and 4-0 in the Little East, while the Bears fall to 1-8 overall and 0-4 in conference play. Keene State has won each of the last 13 meetings of the two teams and holds a 25-4 advantage in the all-time series.

The Owls found the back of the cage first at 9:03 in the first quarter. Sophomore forward Irini Stefanakos (Fitchburg, Mass.) collected a rebound off the pads and used a quick snap to net her fourth goal of the season.

Keene State increased the score to 2-0 with less than a minute left in the first quarter. A penalty corner led to a Maggie Cahoon (Sr., M, Keene, N.H.) blast from the top of the circle. Junior defender Demetria Gonzalez (Merrimack, N.H.) tipped the ball to Cahoon for the assist, allowing Cahoon to net her third goal of the 2022 campaign.

The Bears executed on a penalty corner with 12:18 left to play in the second quarter. Senior forward Bailey Turner (Dedham, Mass.) crossed the ball to an open Sophia Morse (Sr., F, West Bridgewater, Mass.) in the middle of the circle, who seamlessly punched a goal past the Owls' goalkeeper. The goal marked the team-leading fourth of the season for Morse.

At 6:06 in the third quarter, a penalty corner led to the third goal of the day for Keene State. Freshman forward Kalina Piasecki (Melrose, Mass.) deflected a Hannah Wood (So., D, Brownsville, Vt.) shot from the top of the circle directly into the lower left-hand corner of the cage, marking her fourth of the season.

Gonzalez netted her first goal of the year on a late third quarter penalty corner. Following back-to-back saves by Bears' freshman goalie Ashley Hamelin (Whitinsville, Mass.), Gonzalez won the battle in front of the net, slipping the ball into the bottom right of the goal.

Freshman forward Julia Baer (Contoocook, N.H.) tallied her first collegiate goal with less than a minute remaining in the game. A penalty corner led to a scuffle in front of the net and Baer ultimately prevailed, pushing a goal through, and capping the scoring for the day.

Hamelin played all 60 minutes for the Bears between the pipes, turning away ten shots along the way.

Three Keene State netminders combined for the win. Junior Molly Edmark (Plymouth, N.H.), freshman Clara Gorman (Stratham, N.H.), and sophomore Ashley Enis (Westford, Mass.) teamed up to make four saves on the day. Gonzalez added a key defensive save late in the second quarter with the Owls clinging to a 2-1 lead.

Keene held a decided 24-6 shot advantagte fopr the game as well as a 13-5 edge in penalty corner attempts.

The Little East schedule continues for both teams on Wednesday night. The Bears travel to Framingham State University for a seven o'clock game with the Rams, while the Owls entertain the Vikings of Salem State University at 6:30.