Box Score KEENE, N.H. – Hoping to improve its lot as the Little East Conference field hockey season heads into the final weeks, Eastern Connecticut State University was unable to upset conference co-leader Keene State College, falling for the 12th straight time to the Owls, 2-0, Saturday afternoon at the Owl Athletic Complex.
While Keene (13-3, 8-0 LEC) took over sole possession of first place with its win over Eastern (7-8, 3-5 LEC) and defending LEC playoff champion UMass Dartmouth's shootout loss to homestanding Bridgewater State University, the Warriors dropped from sole possession of sixth place in the 12-team standings into a three-way tie for sixth with Westfield State University (which was idle) and the University of Southern Maine (2-0 winner over visiting Framingham State University).
Searching for its first conference playoff berth since 2004, Eastern hosts Western Connecticut State University Tuesday at 6 p.m. before closing on the road at Bridgewater State and Worcester State University. The top eight teams in the final standings compete in the playoffs, which begin Nov. 5.
Eastern Conn. (7-8, 3-5 LEC) has dropped four of its last five games, all of the setbacks coming in conference play following a 3-1 conference start.
Sophomore Haylie Dolan and freshman Sami Smith found the back of the net for the Owls. Dolan scored her sixth goal of the season with 11 minutes left in the first half, and Smith's ninth of the campaign gave the hosts insurance with nine minutes left.
Freshman Kayla Renaud, who shares the Keene scoring lead of ten goals with sophomore Lyndsie Rabenius, was limited to only one shot. Rabenius did not play.
"It was a more physical game than we expected," said Keene veteran coach Amy Watson afterward. "We had a lot of opportunities, but their defense is pretty solid and their goalie had a great game."
Eastern freshman goalie Samantha Scavo (Redding) kept it a two goal-game with several big saves later in the half, finishing with a career-tying 11 saves.
Keene State had a wide advantage in shots (20-3) and corners (15-1).
