Keene field hockey holds off Pinkerton to reach D1 title game for first time (video)

EXETER - Before the season began, Michelle Tiani thought she knew how good the Keene High School field hockey team could be.

Now the Blackbirds coach knows for sure.

Top-seeded Keene got up early on No. 4 Pinkerton and then held on tight in the second half to grab a 3-2 win over the Astros at Bill Ball Stadium in Exeter. The win puts the Blackbirds in a championship game for the first time in program history, where they will face No. 2 Dover, the defending champs, at 3 p.m. Saturday at Bedford High School.

Olive Thatcher had a goal and an assist for Keene (17-0-1) while Scarlett Miller and Sofia Millar also had a goal apiece. Mckenna Nelson added an assist and Lilly Rowell made eight saves for the Blackbirds, who were making just their third appearance in a final four.

"I think they’re good but … we’ll see," Tiani said of her preseason thoughts. "We felt like we could do it, but we’re in this Southwest corner, and we don’t summer league with anybody. Our girls play on a different club (team) than most of Division I. We didn’t know where we stacked.

"I think starting with (a 3-2 win over) Exeter that first game was huge for us. Each game, we started to believe it more and more. I’m still a little shock myself.  I think they can tell themselves they’re pretty good."

Meaghan Shea had a goal and an assist for Pinkerton (13-4-1) while Jaeyln Crossman also had a goal and Molly Kuncik finished with nine saves.

It looked like the Astros took the lead in the opening minutes, when a shot from Crossman landed in the netting on a penalty corner. But the officials ruled the shot was too high and waved it off.

That allowed the Blackbirds to reset.

"It was a huge sigh of relief," Rowell said. "We know we’re OK."

Tiani felt there were several factors that went into that start, and that served as a bit of a wakup call.

"I think they were just nervous," she said. "We had to travel. It’s a long drive to Exeter. We haven’t played at Exeter ever for these girls. Our seniors were freshmen on JV, so they haven’t had the experience of playing here. It’s a big stadium, it’s a big thing. Once we got the nerves out, we remember what our job is and what to do."

Keene took control of the game, getting five corners in the first quarter, including four in the final five minutes. The Blackbirds finally broke through on the last one, as Scarlett Miller put home a rebound for a 1-0 lead with 1:16 to go.

But Pinkerton answered on a corner of its own early in the second, as this time, Crossman's shot stayed on the ground on its way into the goal, making it 1-1 with 8:28 to play until halftime.

Momentum swung both ways over the final minutes of the half, as Keene was awarded a penalty stroke with 4:18 remaining, but Kuncik was able to make a save on the shot by Natalia Gillis to keep it tied. But moments later, the Blackbirds got another corner, and Sofia Miller scored with 2:52 remaining in the half to give Keene a 2-1 lead.

Thatcher redirected a shot by Nelson with 9:58 left in the third quarter to give Keene a 3-1 lead, but Pinkerton stormed back before the end of the quarter. The Astros had three straight corners, but Rowell and Keene's defense were able to keep Pinkerton from cutting into the lead.

"Everybody held their space and communicated well," Rowell said. "My teammates were there, we all were supporting each other, and if the ball got by, there was always somebody there to get it back."

Shea made it a one-goal game with nine seconds left in the third, when she put the ball into the circle and it was deflected into the goal by a Keene player, making it 3-2.

Pinkerton had its chances in the fourth quarter, including three more corners, but Keene was able to do enough to hold on for the win.

"It’s definitely a little scary, but I know my defense is there," Rowell said. "We all know what we have to do to get the ball out. It’s a good environment down there. If anything goes wrong, no body feels bad about themselves. It’s positive and we’re there for each other."