Owls Stop Vikings on Late PK

SALEM, Mass. – Alex Kennedy (Byfield, Mass.) scored on a penalty kick with less than three minutes remaining, sending Keene State to a hard fought 3-2 victory over Salem State on Tuesday evening at Alumni Field. The Owls improve to 6-9-1 while the Vikings are now 3-10.  

Salem State honored senior Micaela Peysere (Bridgewater, Mass.) before the contest, who played in her final home game at Alumni Field.    

Amanda Marshal (Bow, N.H.) put Keene State on the board in the 8^th minute as she lofted a shot that snuck just inside the left goal post for an early 1-0 Owls' lead. Keene State nearly scored again minutes later off a corner, but a nice defensive play by Sydney Durkin (Dracut, Mass.) prevented the ball from crossing the goal line.

The Vikings tied the game in the 38th minute after the Owls turned the ball over in their end. Lyndsey Martins (Hudson, N.H.) headed a pass to Eryn Ward (Billerica, Mass.), who was uncovered in front of the goal. The freshman then netted her first goal of the year, beating keeper Rebecca Koziara (Keene, N.H.).

Keene State held a sizeable 15-4 margin in shots in the first half, while holding a 5-2 edge in corners.

Alexa Skinner (Goffstown, N.H.) gave Keene State the lead back in the 52^nd minute when she launched a loose ball from 18 yards out that drifted just below the crossbar for a 2-1 Owls' lead.

Despite being outshot 18-6 in the second half, the Vikings refused to let Keene State pull away. Their perseverance paid off when Jasmine Moran (Falmouth, Mass.) beat the Owls' defense and put home the game-tying goal in the 76th minute.

However, a foul by the Vikings set up Keene State for the winning goal as Kennedy deposited the shot into the upper left side of the net.

Koziara made six saves in the win while Lily Pfefferle (St. Paul, Minn.) corralled 13 shots for the Vikings.