PLYMOUTH, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) Brianna Finke played hero for the Owls as she not only scored the first goal in program history, she scored the game-winning overtime goal for the Keene State College women’s ice hockey team in their 3-2 overtime win over Plymouth State University for the first win in the Owls’ program history.
Records
- Keene State: 1-1
- Plymouth State: 1-1
How it Happened
Plymouth State dominated on the offensive half over the first period of play, as they recorded 25 shots to seven from KSC, but only 10 of the Panthers shots were on goal, compared to two from the Owls. PSU a power play early in the first period, and then a 5-3 advantage for 50 seconds, but the Owls shut the Panthers down, as the Owls’ starting goaltender, Abby Tanner, made four saves to keep the game scoreless early. The Owls were unable to capitalize on their first power play opportunity of the first period, as their only shots, coming from Brianna Finke and Ellie Patrick, were blocked by Panther defenders. As the first period started to come to a close, KSC killed another penalty of their own, with the Panthers not recording a shot on goal, thanks to a blocked shot from each Haylee Owen and Emma McNeil. Tanner’s two saves in goal in the final 30 seconds closed out the first 20 minutes of scoreless play for both teams.
KSC dominated early on in the second period, as Paige Henault (four) and Ava Iantosca (two) combined to pick win the first six faceoffs of the period, resulted in four shots on goal for the Owls, but the Panthers’ goaltender, Teagan Wilson, saved all of the shots, with one coming from Henault, and three coming from Molly Price over the first 4:39 of play in the second. Wilson recorded four more saves on the Owls over the next five minutes, including one on another power play for KSC, which resulted in one shot over the two minute advantage. On the Owls’ penalty kill just over halfway through the period, Henault had another scoring opportunity, as the puck was dumped into the Panther’s zone, but her shot in close quarters with Wilson was covered up as she kept the game scoreless. KSC continued to apply the pressure on Wilson, as she made two more saves through the rest of the half, but with 1:12 left to play in the second period, Finke, Emily Underhill and Camden Ladzinski accounted for the first goal in program history. Underhill’s offensive faceoff win led to Ladzinski tipping the puck to Finke, who weaved through the Panthers’ defense and fired a shot past Wilson, for the first goal ever for the Owls, just 11 seconds into their power play opportunity. Tanner made another save in net in the closing seconds of the second period, bringing the total number of shots in the period to 12-4 for the Owls, 12-4.
PSU started the third period, just as KSC had in the third, as they applied a lot of pressure in the offensive zone. Tanner saved the first two shots from PSU to open the final 20 minutes of play, but she was unable to save the third, as Jacqueline St. Martin took a shot from the blue line that found the back of the net for a power play goal to tie the game up at one apiece with 18 minutes left to play. Both goaltenders recorded a pair of saves over the next few minutes, as the clock reached under 13 minutes left in regulation. After KSC killed off Finke’s penalty and had a minute remaining on a power play opportunity (thanks to a roughing penalty to Emma Lemery of PSU), Wilson saved the first shot on the Owls’ power play, from Owen, but 20 seconds later, Owen’s shot from the blue line found the back of the net for the KSC, for a 2-1 lead with 7:16 left in regulation. Tanner made three saves in net over the next three minutes, compared to two from Wilson, as the Owls looked to add another goal on the board. As regulation started to come to a close, PSU pulled Wilson for the extra attacker in the final minute, and it paid off for the Panthers, as Emily Gerrie scored the game-tying goal with 25 seconds left, to send the game into overtime.
KSC dominated the overtime period on the day, as after Henault won the opening faceoff and on defense, KSC did not allow a shot on goal, thanks to blocked shots from each Iantosca and Patrick. The Owls maintained possession for a majority of overtime as they looked for the perfect opportunity to net the game-winner. Then, 2:49 into the extra period, Finke weaved through the Panthers’ defenders, and took a shot that Wilson saved, but Wilson was unable to corral the rebound due to a pileup of players in front of the crease; just as Finke started the game by opening the scoring, she ended it too, as she found the rebound and got just enough on the shot to slide it past the Panthers’ defenders to give KSC the 3-2 overtime win.
“The team is feeling really good. It’s always fun to win and to do it in OT really helped with the bonding of the group,” said head coach Rob Morgan. “We had to get creative with our lineup today. We ran two centers through three wing pairs and they both did a great job! We adjusted our forecheck to help our energy levels and we needed everyone to drain the tank by winning their shifts,” Morgan said on making adjustments between the game the night before.
“Special teams were good and [Tanner] was outstanding in net. Seeing the first-evers, coming from [Owen’s] first goal for us, [Finke’s] first multiple goal game, and the first win, also coming against Plymouth State is all very exciting!”
Inside the Crease
- Although PSU outshot the Owls, 54-40, they only recorded one more shot on goal, as the Panthers recorded 23, to 22 from KSC.
- KSC went 2-5 on their power play opportunities, compared to 1-6 from the Panthers.
- In a nearly identical team faceoff results to the game the night before, KSC had 28 faceoff wins, with PSU finishing with 25, while the previous night, the Owls had 28, compared to 24 from the Panthers.
- Henault, 15-for-23 (65.2%), and Iantosca, 11-for-16 (68.8%), both led the Owls in the faceoff circle on the day.
- Tanner made 21 saves in goal, while only allowing a pair of goals, while Wilson made 19 saves, while allowing three goals.
- KSC recorded 17 blocked shots, with Patrick logging a game-high of six, while PSU finished with 12 blocked shots on the day.
Up Next
Keene State returns home for their next contest, as they will host the Western New England University Golden Bears on Friday, Nov. 8, at 7:45 p.m.
Plymouth State plays next at New England College on Tuesday, Nov. 5, at 7 p.m.
A 75-year-old hunter from Swanzey was rescued from rugged terrain on Fisk Hill in Wilton, NH, after slipping and suffering a head injury while helping his son recover a deer. Conservation officers and emergency crews assisted in the rescue.
Keene High School’s field hockey team has made history, winning the Division I state title with an undefeated 18-0-1 season. The Blackbirds secured a 1-0 victory over Dover, thanks to Olive Thatcher’s late goal. This first-ever championship win marks a milestone for Keene High, as the team celebrated with a hometown parade, greeted by cheers and a police and fire escort.
A Putney man, Zachary Goldberg, 42, was arrested after allegedly pointing a firearm and using abusive language in a Vinegar Lane altercation. Charged with aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, and a hate crime, Goldberg is set to appear in Vermont Superior Court on November 4.
Brattleboro Fire Chief Leonard Howard III announces retirement after nearly 40 years of dedicated service to the Brattleboro Fire Department. Having risen through the ranks since 1987, Chief Howard reflects on his career, leadership values, and contributions to the community. His achievements include organizing the career staff union, developing Brattleboro’s Rental Housing Registry, and guiding the department’s shift to a municipal emergency services model. The town has begun the search for a new chief.
The Vermont Association of Broadcasters (VAB) will present the 2024 Distinguished Service Award to Ira Wilner, chief engineer at Monadnock Media Group, during the Hall of Fame & Awards Gala on November 16 at The Farmhouse at Essex Resort & Spa. Recognized for his 50-year career in broadcast engineering in Vermont and New Hampshire, Wilner’s contributions include founding Wilner Associates, setting up transmission towers, and designing studios for local stations. Known for his commitment to public service, he played a vital role in creating the Vermont Emergency Alert System and continues to mentor aspiring engineers.
