Kean Field Hockey Defeats Castleton
State, 3-2, in Opener
UNION, N.J. (8/29/08) - Junior forward
Brittany Gibbs (West Deptford, N.J.) scored twice
to lead the Kean University field hockey team to a 3-2 victory over
visiting Castleton State College in the 
season opener for both teams on Friday evening.
Gibbs scored what proved to be the game-winner just 6:07 into
the second half to give the Cougars a 3-0 lead, before Spartan
senior Kayla Blank (Whitesboro, N.Y.) scored twice in the
final 10 minutes of the game to make it a one-goal contest.
The Cougars took the 1-0 lead less than five minutes into the
contest when senior Stephanie Cirino (Warminster,
Pa.) scored off an assist from sophomore Amie Hoch
(Egg Harbor Twp., N.J.) after several corner opportunities
for Kean.
Gibbs netted the first of her two goals at the 15:05 mark of the
first half, as she took a pass from Cirino (pictured left) just
outside the goal and found the back of the cage from the left side
for the 2-0 advantage.
In the second half, Gibbs extended the Cougar lead to 3-0,
scoring off an assist from Hoch (pictured right), before the
Spartans mounted the rally.
Blank scored unassisted with just 7:40 remaining in the contest
to get the Spartans on the board. Just 4:41 later, Blank cut
the deficit to one goal when she scored off an assist from
senior midfielder Carolyn Griggs (Lincoln, Vt.) after
initially taking a penalty corner.
The Kean defense tightened up over the final three minutes of
action, as the Cougars didn't allow a shot the rest of the
way.
Kean held a 23-12 advantage in shots and 16-5 edge in penalty
corners, while Spartan goalkeeper Trisha Clark (East Dover,
Vt.) made seven saves. For Kean, rookie Nichole
Patterson (Morris Plains, N.J.) stopped two shots in just
over 67 minutes of action.
The Cougars return to action on Wednesday, September 3, when
they travel to Fairleigh Dickinson University College at Florham
for a non-conference match at 3 p.m.
