October 30, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Carole Grills
(413) 585-2703
Keene State Defeats Smith Field Hockey 3-1
Northampton, MA: Forwards Carly Benning (Brewster, MA) and Elizabeth Rand (Peterborough, NH) scored within just over a minute of each other in the second half of action tonight to give Keene State its fifteenth victory of the season. The Owls improved to 15-4 on the year while Smith fell to 7-10.
The Smith defense held Keene State scoreless in the first half with goalkeeper Courtney Murphy (Northampton, MA) making seven saves. The Pioneers scored the first goal of the game just over two minutes into the second half when Mary Kate Long (Boylston, MA) took a free hit and found Sarah Knowles (North Kingstown, RI) who deflected the ball into the goal.
Benning tied the game less than two minutes later after receiving a pass from Erin Dallas (Marlow, NH) and Rand scored the game winner a minute following converting a cross from Tara Murphy (Salisbury, NH). Jacki Benson (Hampstead, NH) tallied an insurance goal in the 51st minute as she lifted the ball from the right side of the goal into the left corner.
Murphy had an outstanding game making 12 saves in the loss while Vikki Stoessel (Derry, NH) made two saves for the Owls.
The Pioneers travel to Wheaton College on Saturday at 1 p.m. for a quarterfinal game of the NEWMAC Championship.
1 2 F
Smith (7-10) 0 1 1
Keene State (15-4) 0 3 3
Scoring:
1) 37:12 SM Sarah Knowles (Mary Kate Long)
2) 39:07 KS Carly Benning (Erin Dallas)
3) 40:10 KS Elizabeth Rand (Tara Murphy)
4) 50:24 KS Jacki Benson
Keepers: Smith - Courtney Murphy (70 mins, 3 GA, 12 saves)
Vikki Stoessel (70 mins, 1 GA, 2 saves)
Shots: Smith-5, Keene-20
Corners: Smith -0, Keene-13
