Box Score
BOSTON, Mass.—For the second-consecutive season, Keene State College (14-8-1) hoisted the Little East Conference Tournament Trophy, as the Owls knocked off the Beacons (11-4-6) 4-3 in penalty kicks, after 110 minutes of 1-1 play at the Clark Athletic Center Field.
The Owls, advance to the NCAA tournament for the second straight year and fourth time in school history. KSC will find out who and where they will be playing when selections are announced on Monday.
Saturday's game marked the final game for UMass Boston's six seniors: Krista Ledin (Bridgewater, Mass.), Ericka Garufi (Milton, Mass.), Amanda Pugliese (Pembroke, Mass.), Dani Perkins (Murrieta, Calif.), Brittany Castillo (Yarmouth, Mass.) and Cindy Cortés (Medellin, Colombia).
UMass Boston got off to a strong start in the contest, with Ledin putting the Beacons ahead 1-0 in the 50th minute, off of a Marina Kelly (Whitman, Mass.) free kick. Ledin headed home a shot just past a charging Crenson for her eighth goal in seven career games.
The goal marked the 105th career of Ledin's career and points number 240 and 241. Ledin wraps up her career tied for ninth in NCAA Division III history in career goals and tied for 15th in points.
After nearly equalizing on several opportunities, the Owls finally broke through in the 82nd minute. Jennifer Wilson sent a high shot from distance off the bottom of the crossbar, that deflected off of Perkins' back and laid just outside the goal. Keene State leading scorer Taylor Farland rushed into the six-yard box and tapped it home for her 12th goal of the season.
Garufi nearly gave UMass Boston the win at the end of the first overtime, but Keene State senior goalie Torrie Crenson made a key save.
Perkins proved to be the difference maker in the overtime, as the senior goalie made four huge point-blank saves in the overtime sessions, to keep the Beacons' season alive. Perkins stopped a sequence of three straight point-blank shots from Beverly Cole and Shannon Summers, all while on the ground, trying to get up.
For the contest, Perkins made a career-high 10 saves, easily eclipsing her former season-high and career-high of seven saves. The two-year co-captain wrapped up her career second in program history with 26 victories in 48 career starts career appearances. As a senior, Perkins posted a 10-1-4 record with a 1.18 goals against average.
Ledin began the shootout by making converting her penalty, while Katie Silegy did the same for the Owls. Garufi was next for the Beacons, and her shot ricocheted off the right post and out. Cole, who was also successful in Thursday's semifinal shootout win over Western Connecticut State, scored her penalty for a 2-1 KSC lead.
The Beacons' next shooter, Natasha Stibor (San Francisco, Calif.), fired her attempt over the crossbar, but Kali Santino had her shot saved by Perkins to keep the shootout at 2-1. Hannah Petersen (Plymouth, Mass.) and Morgan Kathan traded successful penalties for a 3-2 KSC lead, and after Sam Bendick (New Egypt, N.J.) converted hers, KSC's Maggie Grayson stepped up on the final attempt and beat Perkins to give the Owls the championship.
Senior Owls back Kate Piersiak was named the Tournament's Most Outstanding Player, marshalling a defense that allowed two goals in 310 minutes of tournament action. KSC added to their haul of LEC tournament titles with the win, joining the 2002, 2004, and 2013 squads.
Parts of this release courtesy of Keene State Sports Information Department
