Entering their 2017 campaign the Owls have battled through adversity. Riding off such high success individually and as a team the previous season, it has been tough to live up to the expectations. The 2017 season has been a season of reloading and rebuilding. New players have been stepping up, and older players have been filling new roles, this has been the epitome of the season so far.
Every year the owls start off with a tough non-conference schedule They often play top 20 teams in the country testing the Owls off the bat physically and mentally. The mentality for non-conference match-ups is, 'we won't see them again, it won't matter' or 'it doesn't impact us later on'. The mindset completely flips once the owls start playing against teams in conference. These games are fueled by decades of rivalry. Now the need to win is both tested mentally and physically rather than choosing one or the other. Being back to back conference champs has given the Owls a huge target on their back. As they say, it's harder to stay at the top than to get there.
Game 1:
The first 10 games of the season for the Owls have been a part of their non conference schedule. The Owls faced MIT in Cambridge,Massachusetts in an out of conference match up on March 1st.
Final Score: Engineers: 24
Owls: 16
A total of 40 goals between the two teams. The Engineers converted 24 goals on 42 shots while the owls converted 16 goals on 30 shots, both teams shooting percentages about .5. The owls were out bested in free position shots, , draws, and saves. In almost all aspects of the game the Owls were edged by the Engineers.
Outlook on Game 1:
Overall, game 1 was a game of nerves for the Owls. Players resorted to their comfortable habits because of the stress caused playing in their first game. Individuality trumped team work, as seen in team stats and feelings after the game.
Following game 1 the owls lost their next 6 games by a combined total score of 73-35. Certainly the first half of the season was rough for the Owls, as their out of conference schedule is usually tough in order to prepare them for conference play.
Game 9:
Owls: 13
Colonials: 7
The owls first conference play, and their second game of the season. Just three days prior they played Westfield state and won by 6. Conference games are a different ball game. Once conference games come into play a whole new mentality vibes throughout the team. The Owls played Western Connecticut State University just a few days later and won 13-7, even though they won by 6, they really won by more, they won the mental game. After the first half turnovers kept coming for the visitors and Keene kept taking advantage of it. Mentally, Keene won the battle and physically they dominated beating the Colonials in ground balls, fewest amount of turnovers, shots on goals, and clears. Overall, the Owls wanted to win it more.
The next 2 games the owls won one and lost one. Losing to #9 Tufts and beating Castleton State by 3.
Game 11:
The Owls played Rhode Island College and won by a margin of 12. Every owl got playing time, and a chance to touch the ball and impact the game. The owls have dominated them in conference play almost every year.
Outlook on game 9 & 11:
Playing very weak teams are always awkward. With such a large skills gap, makes it difficult to adjust. These types of games may not be the most exciting, but these games along with games against top #20 opponents say a lot. What players can stay consistent when competition is low? Who can step it up when the competition is high? This really shows what players can adjust when there's either an increase or decrease of pressure. For example, If you drive and shoot incessantly against a weak team that clearly doesn't have the skills to guard you, are you a strong player? Would that work against a team that can adjust to you? Mistakes may be overlooked, because weaker teams can't capitalize on them. Playing RIC and Tufts gave the owls good perspective. The teams both gave the owls a different spectrum of competition and highlighted players adjust-ability.
Game 12,13,&14:
After 3 games in 4 days the owls headed home for a match up against the Eastern Connecticut State University Warrior's on April 15th for their senior day. The Warriors would be a good even test for the owls. In comparison to their last two games, they would be an even match up. For the past two seasons, this game has been decided by one goal. This season, the Warriors edged the owls by one in overtime.
The Owls bounced back quickly defeating Southern Maine on their senior day 16-6, this was by far the Owls most cohesive game, almost every goal assisted, everyone shared the ball. Fast forward two sleeps the owls played their second to last game against the Plymouth State Panthers losing 16-6. The score doesn't exactly reflect the games statistics. The Owls edged the Panthers in draw controls, ground balls, and shots, while also generating less turnovers. The game would be decided by how many of those shots would go in. On 30 shots, 6 goals found the back of the net. The panthers on the flip side were 55% on shooting, and had triple the amount of saves. The game was one of the more selfish games played by the owls, in comparison to their cohesiveness against USM.
Outlook:
These two loses have put the owls into third, entering the LEC tournament. These games have been important in molding a young Keene State team. The Owls have won the LEC tournament the past two years. Losing two huge games has been hard, but a good lesson for the young team. This means the owls will have to grind their way through the tournament by playing together. First they will enter in a quarterfinal contest against USM, from now on, it is survive and advance. Although it's not the ideal turnout, it forces the owls to truly earn every win, no game will be easy. Victory tastes much sweeter when it is deserved. The last two seasons the Owls knocked Plymouth out of the LEC title game. If the Owls play them again, can they win?
Last Conference Game:
For the Owls last conference game, they would travel to UMass Dartmouth for their senior day. The contest was the closest contest between Keene State and UMass Dartmouth since the Corsairs' last victory, a 10-7 win over the Owls at home on April 27, 2003, and the first-ever overtime game between the two teams. The Owls lost the opening draw into overtime, but quickly caused a turnover, before converting it into a goal, 1:29 in.
Outlook:
This game was a great test for the Owls, before heading into playoffs. The Owls were missing two players due to injury, forcing bench players to step up, and for starters to pick up the slack. The Match up on Creassy Field was the hottest game of the year so far at 82 degrees. The game came down to who was able to persist through the intangibles, the Owls coming out on top.
Playoffs:
Quarter Finals: The Owls headed into LEC play as the third seed. For the quarterfinal match they would again face USM home. The first half of the game, the Owls were out hustled by the Huskies and they led by one by half time. The last time the two teams played, the Owls won in dominant fashion, defeating the Huskies 16-6. Playoff time is survive and advance. Anyone can show up, and the Huskies came to play. Fast forward to the second half. The Owls outscored the Huskies 9-2. The Owls realized this could be their last 30 minutes of playing together, and came together to win 18-10. Two days later, they would travel up to Plymouth State for a semi final game. A rematch of the LEC championship game the past three years.
Semi Finals: The last time the Owls and Panthers played, Keene lost 13-6. This game would test the Owls both mentally and physically, with all the adversity the team had been through this season, this game would put it all to the test. In the end, the Owl lost a tough fought battle 9-8. A hard way to end the season. On the bright side, everyone contributed, and although they lost, they had wanted it more and played their hardest a full 60 minutes. It goes to show this team can compete with everyone in the conference, all the pieces are in place, and once they figure out how to put it all together, the program can be unstoppable.
Season Outlook:
This season for the Owls has been the epitome of diversity going through adversity. It has been a roller coaster of a season, the Owls having trouble mostly playing a full 60 minutes. Inconsistency has been the name of the game for the owls this season.
In order to win:
Players must do their job, and do it well. It's not 'you have to win to advance' it's 'you want to win to advance'. The Owls have won the LEC championship the past two years making them the team to beat this season. Leaders have to step up, and followers have to listen.
Every year the owls start off with a tough non-conference schedule They often play top 20 teams in the country testing the Owls off the bat physically and mentally. The mentality for non-conference match-ups is, 'we won't see them again, it won't matter' or 'it doesn't impact us later on'. The mindset completely flips once the owls start playing against teams in conference. These games are fueled by decades of rivalry. Now the need to win is both tested mentally and physically rather than choosing one or the other. Being back to back conference champs has given the Owls a huge target on their back. As they say, it's harder to stay at the top than to get there.
Game 1:
The first 10 games of the season for the Owls have been a part of their non conference schedule. The Owls faced MIT in Cambridge,Massachusetts in an out of conference match up on March 1st.
Final Score: Engineers: 24
Owls: 16
A total of 40 goals between the two teams. The Engineers converted 24 goals on 42 shots while the owls converted 16 goals on 30 shots, both teams shooting percentages about .5. The owls were out bested in free position shots, , draws, and saves. In almost all aspects of the game the Owls were edged by the Engineers.
Outlook on Game 1:
Overall, game 1 was a game of nerves for the Owls. Players resorted to their comfortable habits because of the stress caused playing in their first game. Individuality trumped team work, as seen in team stats and feelings after the game.
Following game 1 the owls lost their next 6 games by a combined total score of 73-35. Certainly the first half of the season was rough for the Owls, as their out of conference schedule is usually tough in order to prepare them for conference play.
Game 9:
Owls: 13
Colonials: 7
The owls first conference play, and their second game of the season. Just three days prior they played Westfield state and won by 6. Conference games are a different ball game. Once conference games come into play a whole new mentality vibes throughout the team. The Owls played Western Connecticut State University just a few days later and won 13-7, even though they won by 6, they really won by more, they won the mental game. After the first half turnovers kept coming for the visitors and Keene kept taking advantage of it. Mentally, Keene won the battle and physically they dominated beating the Colonials in ground balls, fewest amount of turnovers, shots on goals, and clears. Overall, the Owls wanted to win it more.
The next 2 games the owls won one and lost one. Losing to #9 Tufts and beating Castleton State by 3.
Game 11:
The Owls played Rhode Island College and won by a margin of 12. Every owl got playing time, and a chance to touch the ball and impact the game. The owls have dominated them in conference play almost every year.
Outlook on game 9 & 11:
Playing very weak teams are always awkward. With such a large skills gap, makes it difficult to adjust. These types of games may not be the most exciting, but these games along with games against top #20 opponents say a lot. What players can stay consistent when competition is low? Who can step it up when the competition is high? This really shows what players can adjust when there's either an increase or decrease of pressure. For example, If you drive and shoot incessantly against a weak team that clearly doesn't have the skills to guard you, are you a strong player? Would that work against a team that can adjust to you? Mistakes may be overlooked, because weaker teams can't capitalize on them. Playing RIC and Tufts gave the owls good perspective. The teams both gave the owls a different spectrum of competition and highlighted players adjust-ability.
Game 12,13,&14:
After 3 games in 4 days the owls headed home for a match up against the Eastern Connecticut State University Warrior's on April 15th for their senior day. The Warriors would be a good even test for the owls. In comparison to their last two games, they would be an even match up. For the past two seasons, this game has been decided by one goal. This season, the Warriors edged the owls by one in overtime.
The Owls bounced back quickly defeating Southern Maine on their senior day 16-6, this was by far the Owls most cohesive game, almost every goal assisted, everyone shared the ball. Fast forward two sleeps the owls played their second to last game against the Plymouth State Panthers losing 16-6. The score doesn't exactly reflect the games statistics. The Owls edged the Panthers in draw controls, ground balls, and shots, while also generating less turnovers. The game would be decided by how many of those shots would go in. On 30 shots, 6 goals found the back of the net. The panthers on the flip side were 55% on shooting, and had triple the amount of saves. The game was one of the more selfish games played by the owls, in comparison to their cohesiveness against USM.
Outlook:
These two loses have put the owls into third, entering the LEC tournament. These games have been important in molding a young Keene State team. The Owls have won the LEC tournament the past two years. Losing two huge games has been hard, but a good lesson for the young team. This means the owls will have to grind their way through the tournament by playing together. First they will enter in a quarterfinal contest against USM, from now on, it is survive and advance. Although it's not the ideal turnout, it forces the owls to truly earn every win, no game will be easy. Victory tastes much sweeter when it is deserved. The last two seasons the Owls knocked Plymouth out of the LEC title game. If the Owls play them again, can they win?
Last Conference Game:
For the Owls last conference game, they would travel to UMass Dartmouth for their senior day. The contest was the closest contest between Keene State and UMass Dartmouth since the Corsairs' last victory, a 10-7 win over the Owls at home on April 27, 2003, and the first-ever overtime game between the two teams. The Owls lost the opening draw into overtime, but quickly caused a turnover, before converting it into a goal, 1:29 in.
Outlook:
This game was a great test for the Owls, before heading into playoffs. The Owls were missing two players due to injury, forcing bench players to step up, and for starters to pick up the slack. The Match up on Creassy Field was the hottest game of the year so far at 82 degrees. The game came down to who was able to persist through the intangibles, the Owls coming out on top.
Playoffs:
Quarter Finals: The Owls headed into LEC play as the third seed. For the quarterfinal match they would again face USM home. The first half of the game, the Owls were out hustled by the Huskies and they led by one by half time. The last time the two teams played, the Owls won in dominant fashion, defeating the Huskies 16-6. Playoff time is survive and advance. Anyone can show up, and the Huskies came to play. Fast forward to the second half. The Owls outscored the Huskies 9-2. The Owls realized this could be their last 30 minutes of playing together, and came together to win 18-10. Two days later, they would travel up to Plymouth State for a semi final game. A rematch of the LEC championship game the past three years.
Semi Finals: The last time the Owls and Panthers played, Keene lost 13-6. This game would test the Owls both mentally and physically, with all the adversity the team had been through this season, this game would put it all to the test. In the end, the Owl lost a tough fought battle 9-8. A hard way to end the season. On the bright side, everyone contributed, and although they lost, they had wanted it more and played their hardest a full 60 minutes. It goes to show this team can compete with everyone in the conference, all the pieces are in place, and once they figure out how to put it all together, the program can be unstoppable.
Season Outlook:
This season for the Owls has been the epitome of diversity going through adversity. It has been a roller coaster of a season, the Owls having trouble mostly playing a full 60 minutes. Inconsistency has been the name of the game for the owls this season.
In order to win:
Players must do their job, and do it well. It's not 'you have to win to advance' it's 'you want to win to advance'. The Owls have won the LEC championship the past two years making them the team to beat this season. Leaders have to step up, and followers have to listen.