Owls Hold Off Vikings

SALEM, Mass - Nina Bruno (Agawam, Mass.) finished with two goals, including the go-ahead goal in the fourth quarter, and an assist as Keene State held off Salem State 5-3 on Wednesday at Alumni Field. Bruno broke a 3-3 tie in the fourth quarter to secure the win for the Owls. Keene State improves to 8-5 on the year and 6-1 in the Little East Conference (LEC). Salem State dips to 7-5 for the season and 3-4 in the LEC.

Kayla Klein (West Brookfield, Mass.) gave Keene State a 1-0 lead at the 12:29 mark of the first. A minute later, the Vikings raced upfield as Marissa Laganas (Beverly, Mass.) battled for the ball in front of Keene State's net. Laganas managed to pass it to Casie Curtin (Wrentham, Mass.) who tied the game at 1-1.

With 00:53 left in the second quarter, McCall took a shot which was saved by Kelli McCarthy (Foxborough, Mass.). However, Bruno got the rebound and knocked it in the net to put the Owls up 2-1.

At the half, Keene State led 2-1. The Owls had a huge advantage in shots with 13 in the first half while the Vikings only took four.

Five minutes into the third quarter, Curtin found Allison Couillard (Tewksbury, Mass.) open who shot it towards the far post as Salem State leveled the score 2-2.

Later in the quarter, Bruno took a shot and Ellie Hunkins (Greenland, NH) grabbed the loose ball and shot it in for a goal to give the Owls a 3-2 lead. Early in the fourth quarter, the Vikings' Curtin and Couillard connected again for a goal to make it 3-3. It was a back and forth game until Keene State pulled away, scoring two goals from Bruno and Hunkins in the fourth quarter as the Owls won 5-3.

Keene State's goalie Jordan LaRaus (Bedford Hills, NY) got the win in net completing the game with one save and three goals allowed. McCarthy got the loss in net finishing with 12 saves and five goals allowed.