KEENE, N.H. – SUNY Geneseo sophomore forward Maria Dillingham scored a goal, but it was Keene State taking a 3-1 victory over the Knights in the first round of the NCAA Division III Field Hockey Tournament, Wednesday.
Keene State (21-3) struck first as sophomore midfielder Mia Brickley cleaned up a loose ball in a crowd with a short shot to put the Owls on the board, 1-0, with 32:40 left in the half.
Dillingham tipped a loose ball across the goal line during a scramble in front of the Owls' goal to knot the game, 1-1, 17:31 left in the first half.
Keene State took a 2-1 lead with 6:01 on the clock after senior forward Sami Smith tucked home a short finish in front of a crowded goal to give the Owls an edge it carried into the second half.
Keene State first-year forward Hannah Cook sent a feed from the right side to a wide open sophomore forward Erica Stauffer on the left corner of the crease. Stauffer scored on a quick shot inside the left post to make it a 3-1 Knights' deficit with 13:17 left in regulation.
Junior goalie Nicole Gregg was credited with seven saves in the setback as the Owls finished with a 10-3 advantage in goals.
Geneseo (11-10) saw its season come to a close after winning its first State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Championship since 2010.
