Keene State Teams Set for Little East Semifinals
KEENE, N.H., 11/1/06 - It’s on to the Little East Conference tournament semifinals for the Owls.
On Thursday, Keene State will host two LEC semifinal games. The top-seed Keene State field hockey team (16-4) will face fourth-seed Worcester State (13-6) and the second-seed KSC men’s soccer team (12-5-1) will take on third-seed R.I. College (10-5-1). Both games at Owl Athletic Complex begin at 6 p.m.
Two Owl teams will be on the road for their semifinal games on Friday. The third-seed Keene State women’s soccer team (12-7) travels to Danbury, Conn., where they will go up against second-seed Eastern Conn. (12-5). The fourth- seed KSC women’s volleyball team (24-12) will be in Willimantic, Conn., to take on top-seed Eastern Conn. (28-9). Both those games are also scheduled for 6 p.m.
A wounded Keene State men’s soccer team enters the tournament following a tough 3-2 double overtime loss to UMass-Boston on Monday. In addition to losing the game, the Owls also suffered injuries to their already depleted roster.
“We’ve be doing it all year with band-aids, but in a tournament you can’t win that way,” said KSC coach Ron Butcher. “Right now our wounds are festering, and I can’t stop the bleeding. We’re just going to go out there and do the best we can.”
The Owls do have history on their side. KSC, which edged the Anchormen (3-2) earlier this season, have not lost to RIC since joining the LEC in 1997. In 11 games, the Owls boast a 10-0-1 mark against the Anchormen.
The Keene State field hockey team extended its winning streak to eight games with a 1-0 quarterfinal victory over Salem State on Tuesday. The Owls, who edged Worcester State 3-2 earlier this season, must generate more offense if they hope to get by the Lancers and advance to the championship game.
“I expect a tough game,” said KSC coach Amy Watson. “We’re going to have to play much better if we want to get to the finals.”
With a victory, KSC will host the championship game on Saturday (12 p.m.).
The Keene State women’s soccer team advanced to the semifinals with a 4-1 win over rival Plymouth State on Tuesday. Winners of six straight, the Owls will have revenge on their minds when they face the Warriors who handily defeated KSC 4-1 earlier this season.
“I think we’re beginning to peak, but I’m still looking for a 90-minute game,” said KSC coach Denise Lyons. “Both Eastern and Western beat us earlier this year, so we have some unfinished business.”
Eastern Conn. blanked the Owls 2-0 in last year’s title game.
The Keene State women’s volleyball team swept Western Conn. 3-0 to move into the semifinal round. The Owls split their two meetings with ECSU earlier in the season.
KSC defeated the Warriors 3-0 at the Endicott Invitational, but Eastern Conn. came back to sweep the Owls 3-0 later in the season in LEC round-robin play.
“We’re the only conference team to beat them this season, so that’s a nice feeling for the team,” said KSC coach Bob Weiner. “I think whoever wins the match will win the championship.”
The Owls will be looking for their second straight trip to the LEC finals. KSC upset Plymouth State last season to earn its first championship berth.
