KEENE, N.H. – In a matchup between the Little East Conference's highest scoring squads, the Castleton field hockey team could not keep up with Keene State, losing 9-2 to the Owls Wednesday night.
 
Keene State (9-10, 9-2 LEC) took control of the game early, taking just five minutes to get on the scoreboard off their second penalty corner of the day, but that would be the only goal they would score in the frame.
 
After giving up the day's opening goal, the Spartans defense and goalkeeper Hannah Frittenburg took on a barrage of Keene State to keep it a one-score game, turning away three shots, four penalty corners and two penalty strokes over the final 10 minutes.
 
The screws would come undone in the next quarter-and-a-half, with Keene State scoring four unanswered goals to make it 5-0, but the Spartans would get one back at the 34-minute mark from Emily Harris. The sophomore carried the ball herself down the left sideline and into the circle before rifling a shot into the back of the cage.
 
Harris' goal tally is up to 26 on the season — the most in the nation — and is just one goal shy of tying Castleton's single-season record of 27 set by Kealy Chipman in 2012. The sophomore will have one more opportunity this year to tie and surpass that total.
 
The Owls would tack on four more unanswered goals over the next 20 minutes before Payton Barlow earned herself a score in the final three minutes. Taking the ball down the right sideline with pace, Barlow got into the circle and snuck the ball past Keene's keeper, handing the sophomore her fourth goal of the season and making it a 9-2 game at the final whistle.
 
The Spartans will look to end the season on a high note with their matchup against Bridgewater State Friday, Oct. 29 serving as their regular-season finale. The game will be played at Dave Wolk Stadium with first pass set for 4 p.m.