Box Score KEENE, NH – In an out of conference matchup, Williams field hockey (0-2-0, 0-1-0 NESCAC) fell to Keene State (4-0-0) by a score of 4-1, with Annie VanWagenen scoring for the Ephs.
Keene capitalized quickly, with junior Melissa Habelow scoring off of a penalty corner only two minutes into the game. Although Keene would extend their lead to 2 goals 18 minutes later, the score was not indicative of Williams' play. The Ephs led in shots taken, taking 9 shots to the Owls' 8, and they also took 7 penalty corners to the Owls' 2. So when Keene's Kayla Renaud scored the Owls' second goal at the 20:08 mark, the Ephs remained confident. "Although we started off on our heels because they scored early, I think we improved a lot from our last game," said Eph head coach Alix Barrale. "We made some adjustments because they had a lot of speed and we worked very well together as a team."
Despite keeping up the pressure offensively, the Ephs suffered another blow from Keene's Sami Smith before they could begin to mount their comeback effort. Scoring at the 47:47 mark, Smith brought the Owls' lead to 3.
The Ephs would not remain complacent, however, as VanWagenen responded with a goal shortly after the Owls scored. Capitalizing on a penalty corner, VanWagenen helped turn the momentum in the Ephs' favor. Williams kept fighting, with forwards Catilin Conlon and Katie Jolin utilizing the width of the field and defender Emily Pavlini adding a spark to the Ephs' defense in the second half.
The tide seemed to be turning in Williams' favor as the Ephs gained the opportunity to score off of a penalty stroke. However, when they failed to capitalize on that opportunity, the Owls pushed back. Scoring their fourth and final goal at the 56:29 mark. Keene extended their lead to three for the rest of the match. Taking 15 shots to the Ephs' 7, and 15 corners to the Ephs' 2, the Owls led offensively in the second half. Many of those corners came late in the half, when Williams was playing down two players due to yellow cards by Conlon and Claire Swingle.
Eph goalie Ariana Spiliotes had a solid game in net for Williams, saving 15 shots. Keene goalie Chloe Audesse made 10 saves on the night.
The Ephs next travel to Trinity College to take on the Bantams in their second NESCAC competition at 12 PM on Saturday.
