Keenan's OT goal sends Gilford field hockey past Berlin, back to D3 final (video)

EXETER - Liv Keenan wanted to end the game.

So when the moment presented itself, the Gilford High School senior made it happen.

Keenan got the ball near the top of the circle with under three minutes to play in overtime of Thursday's Division III semifinal and weaved her way around Berlin's defense, getting behind goalie Mckenna Kelley.

Once clear, she sent it into the goal, just out of the reach of two defenders, giving the top-seeded Golden Eagles a 2-1 victory over the No. 4 Mountaineers at Bill Ball Stadium in Exeter. Gilford moves on to the final at 5 p.m. Saturday at Bedford High School, where it will face No. 6 Bishop Brady as the Golden Eagles try for their third title in a row.

"I was just thinking, Grace (Southworth) had it and I’m open over here, where I was in the middle," Keenan said. "She passed it and I was just going to try to go all the way."

The goal came with 2:48 remaining in overtime, after Gilford (16-0) had a handful of chances to finish off Berlin for the third time this season. Kelley, who finished with 14 saves, had made three stops earlier in the extra frame, and just moments before the goal, Grace Kelley and Southworth had just missed connecting on a two-on-one break.

"(Keenan) was like ‘I need to do this and this is how it’s going to get done,’" Gilford coach Joy Southworth said. "That’s what she does, she knows when she needs to take over.

"That kid, her mental fortitude is the toughest I’ve ever seen. Quitting is not an option and she does so well under pressure. She handles the ball and delivers when it is needed so well."

Calia Blackey had the other goal for the Golden Eagles, giving Gilford a 1-0 lead with 4:51 left in the first half.

During the regular season, Gilford beat Berlin twice, by scores of 1-0 and 2-0, but the Mountaineers were able to battle back in the second half, thanks in part to the play of Kelley.

"My goalie played unbelievable," Berlin coach Nicole Arguin said. "It could have gone either way. She’s a little secret in the back we have. She’s very athletic back there. There are some things she does that are unconventional, but she makes it work for her."

The second half saw a lot of back and forth, as each team made runs that came up short of the circle, followed by a trip the other way.

Berlin finally broke through with 9:26 remaining, when Arayanna Bedard sent the ball into the circle from the right of the goal, and Olivia Richard was in the right spot to one-time it to the far corner, past Gilford goalie Madi Breton (three saves).

Each team had chances in what remained of regulation, including a penalty corner for both, but neither could capitalize.

The Mountaineers got the first rush of overtime, as Emma Rancloes was able to break out behind the Gilford defense with the ball, but Lilly Winward caught up and ended the threat.

The Golden Eagles were able to keep the ball on Berlin's side of the field after that, leading eventually to Keenan's goal.

"It was really tiring," the senior said. "It was back and forth, so it was a lot. I think because our coach trains us so much and just prepares us so much, I can’t thank her enough for what she does. It’s what she puts us through to make us as good as we are."