Worcester, MA --- Keene State senior Kristen Huckins (Westmoreland, NH) netted a pair of goals to help lead the Owls past Worcester State, 3-1, in non-conference women's soccer action this evening at Coughlin Field.
Keene State (10-2-1), who is tied for tenth in the latest NSCAA New England Regional poll, controlled the game early and Huckins nearly missed the net high with a rocket from 20 yards out in the 18th minute of play.
Worcester State (5-5-1) had an opportunity to strike first just five minutes later when sophomore Alicia Macomber (Stoughton, MA) blasted a shot on net that was turned aside by Keene State junior net-minder Torrie Crenson (N. Salem, NY).
Keene State senior Brittany Boscarino (Ellington, CT) had a chance to help the Owls gain the early edge, but her shot off a free kick from 30 yards out sailed just high in the 26th minute keeping the game scoreless.
KSC eventually took the 1-0 advantage in the 31st minute off a cross from the left side of the net by first-year Brittany Tolla (Sandy Hook, CT) which was redirected off a Lancer defender into an open net for an own goal by WSU.
Keene State wasted little time to build up their lead to 2-0 in the second half when senior Kara Pavlidis (Lee, NH) sent a beautiful ball up the middle to a streaking Huckins, who sniped the top right corner from 20 yards out in the 47th minute.
The Lancers cut the deficit in half in the 71st minute when senior Gaby Gonet (Agawam, MA) blasted a free kick from the top left side of the box that deflected off a wall of defenders and into the back of the net for the 2-1 score.
The Blue and Gold then had a tremendous opportunity to tie the score during an odd man rush in the 75th minute.
Macomber sent a beautiful ball to junior Alyssa Sawyer (W. Springfield, MA) as she was running free toward the middle of the field. Sawyer then found senior Kelsey Cartwright (Bridgewater, MA) on the left side of the box, but the pass was mishandled and the threat was avoided when Crenson swiped the ball to preserve the lead.
Huckins gave the visitors breathing room with just under ten minutes to play as she darted along the left side of the goal line and deposited the ball into the top right corner for the 3-1 score.
Crenson recorded two saves on the night for Keene State while WSU sophomore Jillian Witkowski (Leicester, MA) stopped five shots in the setback.
The Owls outshot the Lancers 15-7 and held the slim 2-1 advantage in corner kicks.
Huckins is now one of five Keene State players with four or more goals on the campaign while Gonet chipped in her third of the season for WSU.
Both teams return to action on Saturday for key conference match-ups as Worcester State remains home to take on MASCAC foe Mass.-Maritime at 11 AM and Keene State travels to UMass Dartmouth for an LEC bout with kick-off scheduled for 1 PM.
Story By John Hanna --- Sports Information Graduate Assistant
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