Field Hockey Falls to Keene State 4-1 in LEC Semifinals

KEENE, N.H.— Keene State's Kayla Renaud and Sami Smith each had a goal and an assist to lead No. 3 seeded Keene State College to a 4-1 win over No. 7 seed Worcester State University in the semifinals of the Little East Conference championship on Thursday (Nov. 5) night at Owl Athletic Complex.

Keene State (15-7) will host No. 4 seed Eastern Connecticut State in the championship game at 1 pm on Saturday.  The Lancers, who upset No. 2 seed UMass Dartmouth in the quarterfinals, have their season come to an end at 10-9.

The Owls wasted little time getting on the board, being awarded a penalty stroke with exactly 13 minutes gone in the first half. Casi Smith kept up her perfect record on strokes this season to put the Owls up 1-0.

Nine minutes later, Renaud doubled the lead off a pass from co-captain Haylie Dolan following a penalty corner.  Keene State maintained a 2-0 lead at halftime, but the Lancers cut it in half 10 minutes into the second half on Julie O'Rourke's (Worcester, Mass.) tally.

Three minutes later, Keene State's two-goal advantage was restored through Marita Brothers, and Sami Smith put the icing on the cake with less than 10 minutes to play in regulation for her 23rd of the season.

Keene State outshot the Lancers 13-6.  Meaghan Dwyer made five saves for the Owls, while Kathryn Salemme (Boxboro, Mass.) made six for the visitors.

Release Courtesy of Keene State Sports Information