Box Score KEENE, N.H. – The Corsairs could manage only two scores on Saturday, as Keene State put in 10 goals on 25 shots in the first half, ultimately defeating UMass Dartmouth women's lacrosse by a 15-2 final score. With the victory, the Owls are now 5-0 in the Little East Conference and clinch at least a share of the regular-season title, while UMass Dartmouth slips to 3-2 in the league and 7-6 overall.
Sophomores Raquel Riley (Wakefield, Mass.) and Leah Douty (Framingham, Mass.) were the lone scorers on the day, while senior Colleen Kane (Arlington, Mass.) assisted on both.
Keene State received three-goal outings from Kaitlyn Nolan (Mahopac, N.Y.) and sophomore Taylor Farland (Fiskdale, Mass.), while three additional Owls put in two goals each. Junior Taylor Graf (Hanover, Mass.) posted five assists, while Nolan tacked on three helpers.
A goal wouldn't be tallied until the ninth minute of play, when Nolan opened the game on a Graf assist. Keene State then found a rhythm, potting the next five over six minutes to seize control. Douty broke up the streak at 18:17, putting in her 29th goal of the season.
The Owls responded with two goals in less than a minute, off the sticks of Kelly Chadnick (Brewster, N.Y.) and Samantha Ballard (Queensbury, N.Y.). Riley then tallied at 21:12, her 14th of the year, but Nolan and Chadnick would close off a dominating half for the hosts, carrying a 10-2 lead into the break.
Neither team would play an outstanding second half, as Keene State surrendered 11 turnovers and scored just five goals, while UMass Dartmouth could not find the back of the net at all. Farland highlighted the half, registering back-to-back scores at 7:08 and 9:24 before a long goal-less streak. Erica Stauffer (Cheshire, Conn.) and Nolan then closed the game with goals in the final seven minutes.
Freshman Kaitlyn Burchill (Bridgewater, Mass.) totaled eight saves on the day, including seven in the first frame, while the Owls split time between freshman Anna O'Brien (Winchester, Mass.) and junior Alison Argiro (Hingham, Mass.). O'Brien posted three stops and Argiro five in just over 15 minutes of play.
The Corsairs are back at it Monday, looking to right the ship in their last regular-season LEC contest at Western Connecticut at 7 p.m.
