NCAA Field Hockey: Owls to face top-ranked Bowdoin on Saturday

KEENE, N.H. 11/11/11- There's a saying in sports "that you have to play the best to become the best" and the Keene State College field hockey team will certainly put that adage to the test on Saturday when it faces top-ranked and defending national champion Bowdoin College in the first of two second-round NCAA Regional games to be played at Ryan Field in Brunswick, Maine. 

Fresh off of Wednesday's historic 2-0 first-round shutout win over Endicott College, the programs' first win in the Division III tournament, the Owls (20-4) will go up against the Polar Bears (17-0) at 11 a.m.  Denison (OH) University (18-1) will take on MIT (18-3) in the second game at 2 p.m.  The two winners will face-off on Sunday (1 p.m.). 

The Owls face a tough task trying to take down the Polar Bears who are looking to repeat as Division III champions for the second time in school history. Bowdoin, which earned an automatic bid to the tournament after winning their seventh New England Small College Athletic Conference championship last weekend, has won six of the last seven NESCAC titles and three of the last four NCAA Championships.

While Bowdoin has a lot to boast about, Keene State players are looking forward to the challenge of playing the top team in the country.  "It's going to be a very interesting game," said senior Aislynn Sherry.  "We couldn't ask for a better opponent."

"It's an amazing opportunity," said senior Kerry Howe.  "We've played some excellent teams during the season and now we get a shot at the champs."

KSC Coach Amy Watson is hoping that the Owls' strong out-of-conference schedule, that includes several NESCAC teams, has prepared her team for Saturday's challenge.  "That's where playing against tougher opponents comes in," said Watson.  "We've been on the same field with them and for the most part held out own.  If we never had those experiences it would be scary, but we know what it's going to feel like.  We just have to play at a very high level."

Both teams have impressive line-ups that feature some of the top players from their affiliated conferences.   Keene State placed eight of its 11 starters on the All-Little East team, including senior Elizabeth Coffin (23 goals, nine assists and 55 points) and Howe (eight defensive saves), who were named offensive and defensive players of the year respectively.  Goalie Caitlin Davino-Draper was also named the conference's rookie of the year for her 1.29 GAA and .774 save percentage. 

Bowdoin counters with three All-NESCAC first-team players, including Ella Curren, the conference's defensive player of the year. The Polar Bear defense has allowed more than one goal in a game just twice this season. Offensively, junior Cathleen Smith (15-6-36) and Katie Herter (10-9-29), a first-team All-NESCAC pick, lead Bowdoin in scoring.

Nicky Person and Watson were also recognized as the coach of the year in each conference.

While Keene State is hoping to build on its season record for wins, Bowdoin has several streaks on the line; the Polar Bears have the longest overall win streak in Division III (24, dating back to last year), have won 21 consecutive home matches (dating back to 2009) and have won 12 consecutive NCAA Tournament games - tied for the longest streak in Division III history.

Keene State left early Friday morning for the 183 mile trip that will take them across the state and up I-95.  The Owls will get a chance to practice on Ryan Field, which has a surface similar to Owl Athletic Complex. 

"This team is doing things that have never been done in the history of the program," said Watson.  "We always talk about trying to our program to the next level and I think we've accomplished that this season."