The USM field hockey team gave the Keene State Owls all they could handle for 60 minutes. Unfortunately, just under two minutes into overtime, the Owls snuck a shot past junior keeper Allison Hill (Cape Elizabeth) and defeated the Huskies 2-1, dashing USM’s hope of dethroning the reigning LEC champions.
The Huskies hoped to avenge their 2-1 overtime loss to Keene in last year’s LEC championship, and for the bulk of the game, made strides toward accomplishing that goal. In a game where the Huskies dominated between the 25-yard marks and gave Keene State all they could handle defensively, the Huskies intensity was not enough to overcome the vaunted Owls.
“We had them on their heels a lot,” said Coach Bonny Brown-Denico, who added that her team’s intensity – both on and off the field – played a large role in her team’s ability to hang with one of the best teams in the region. “I think it’s the best we played all year,” she added.
The Owls started their scoring attack ominously when junior Erin Dallas put one into the back of the cage just 57 seconds into the first half.
But what seemed like an omen of the Owl’s dominance, turned out to be more an anomaly.
The Huskies scratched and clawed, keeping the game even throughout the remainder of the first half, until, just five minutes into the second period, junior midfielder Melissa Rivet (Bridgton) tied up the game and breathed new hopes into the Huskies’ playoff push.
The game remained locked at one throughout the remainder of regulation.
But, just as when the game started, Keene State made the most of a fresh slate when junior Leigh Smith used the law of averages to sneak a goal past Hill and solidify Keene State’s berth in the Little East Conference Championship.
The Owls bombarded Hill, who made 11 saves including five in the second half. Keene State out-shot the Huskies 22-3 for the game, making it hard, even for the opportunistic USM offense, to grind out a win against their conference foe.
Earlier in the week the #4 seeded Huskies outplayed Salem St. in the quarterfinals to earn the right to play the Owls.
And even though the Huskies suffered a nearly identical fate a year ago, Brown-Denico’s spirits weren’t dampened after the game.
“This is the first time I’ve ever been looking forward to next year as soon as the game ended,” Brown-Denico said.
And she’s got reasons to be optimistic. With all but three players returning from this year’s squad, the Huskies will be in good position to overtake Keene and the rest of the LEC.
“The younger players gained a lot of confidence,” Brown-Denico added. “And I think it showed in the last game.”