UNION, N.J. (10/17/15) – Sophomore Shauna LaMaina set a new Kean University field hockey record with three defensive saves in a game as the Cougars rallied with four unanswered goals to beat Ramapo College 4-1 on Tuesday. Shauna's twin sister Krista LaMaina had two goals, including the game-winner, and Chelsea Mann added a goal and an assist.
Few in attendance could have anticipated the tight first half; Ramapo came into the game with a 1-13 record, while the Cougars were 12-4. The Kean defense was impressive all night. The Cougars had three defensive saves in the opening period, including two by Shauna LaMaina. The other stop was by fellow defender Katie-Lynne Lussier.
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The Roadrunners scored first off a corner. Stephanie Gallo put in a rebound off a corner to put the visitors on top at 13:50.
Five minutes later, the Cougars responded. Teresa Carr gathered the ball on the right side near the top of the circle, then knifed a good, hard pass all the way across the offensive zone. Krista LaMaina was waiting on the doorstep and made sure to tie the game up.
Kean led the halftime count in shots 20-9 and corners 13-6, but could not find the go-ahead goal.
In the first 10 minutes of the second half, Kean earned 11 penalty corners. But Roadrunner goalie Emily Wisneski made eight saves in that span to keep the game knotted at one. She swatted away high shots, ranged far out of her goal to kick other chances away, and essentially stood on her head as she weathered the barrage of Cougar volleys. By the end, she was even earning applause from some of the Kean fans in attendance.
Marissa Robinson also hit the post in that series as Kean's frustrations continued to mount.
Krista LaMaina finally broke the tie at 58:57. Mann got the ball in deep and LaMaina was able to gather it in close and shove it into the cage for what turned out to be the game-winner.
Only a minute later, Mann (pictured left) fired a shot into traffic, pounced on the rebound and put it in at 60:02 to give the Cougars a quick two-goal cushion.
With two-an-a-half minutes to go, Kayla Molnar tipped in Robinson's shot that was streaking past her to cap the Kean scoring, allowing the Cougars to convert one of their 29 penalty corners. The final shot count in the game was 51-13.
Robinson also had a defensive save in the game. The Cougars notched a total of five defensive saves in the contest.
Kean will play its last home game – which will also be Senior Day for the program's five seniors – this Saturday against St. Joseph's College of Maine at 5 p.m.
