#4 Keene State Ousts #5 Fitchburg State, 1-0 (OT)
Fourth-seeded Keene State College survived quarterfinal action of the Little East Conference playoffs this evening, topping fifth-seeded Fitchburg State University, 1-0 in overtime at Owl Athletic Complex.
Mays posts five saves in first collegiate, post-season contest
KEENE, N.H. (November 2, 2010) – Fourth-seeded Keene State College survived quarterfinal action of the Little East Conference playoffs this evening, topping fifth-seeded Fitchburg State University, 1-0 in overtime at Owl Athletic Complex.
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Led by senior Leigh Smith’s (Sanbornton, N.H.) game-winning overtime goal forty seconds into the extra period, Keene State now advances to the semifinal round of the Little East Tournament. The Owls will take on top-seeded UMass Dartmouth on Thursday night for a LEC Championship berth. Fitchburg State concludes its 2010 campaign with an overall record of 10-8 and a 6-5 mark in the Little East.
The Falcons had control of the ball for most of the first half, outshooting the Owls 8-2. With 13:40 left in the first-half, the Falcons had their best chance of the night to score, as seniors Megan Jacobs (Stoughton, Mass./Stoughton) and Mari Roma (Foxborough, Mass./Foxborough) each had clean looks at the net off a designed corner. Keene State goalie Meghan Ledoux (Standish, Maine) came out of the goal to cut off the angle, stopping Jacob’s rocket and forcing Roma’s wide to end the scoring opportunity.
In the second period, Keene State came out forcing the issue, out-shooting Fitchburg State 8-0 in the period. With just over 13 minutes left in regulation, Smith had a great scoring chance off a penalty corner, but her rebound attempt sailed just over the crossbar and out of play.
In the extra stanza, Keene State wasted no time as Smith’s overtime tally came 40 seconds into the period. Junior Elizabeth Coffin (Sugar Hill, N.H.) sent the ball into the circle to a streaking Smith who put it in just past the dive of freshman goalie Rachel Mays (Somerset, Mass.) for the game-winner.
Between the pipes, Mays played strong in her first Fitchburg State playoff contest as the rookie net minder stopped five shots in the losing effort. Keene State’s keeper, Ledoux finished with five saves in the shutout. The Owls outshot Fitchburg 11-8 for the contest, but the Falcons held the advantage in penalty corners at 7-6.
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Keene State 1, Fitchburg State 0 (OT)
|
Team |
1 |
2 |
OT |
F |
|
Keene State (16-5, 8-3 LEC) |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Fitchburg State (10-8, 6-5 LEC) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Scoring:
1st Half: none
2nd Half: none;
OT: KSC: Leigh Smith (Elizabeth Coffin), 70:40
Goalkeeping: FIT: Rachel Mays (70:40), five saves;
KSC: Meghan Ledoux (70:40), five saves;
Shots: FIT: 8; KSC: 11