Keene State Women's Soccer and Volleyball Teams Earn ECAC Tournament Berths

KEENE, N.H., 11/5/07 - Keene State College women’s soccer and field hockey teams have earned berths to their respective New England ECAC Division III championship tournaments.

As third seed in the eight-team women’s soccer tournament, the Owls (12-8-1) will host sixth-seed Western New England College (13-5-3) in a first-round game on Wednesday (6 p.m.) at the Owl Athletic Complex.

Seeded fifth, the Keene State women’s volleyball team (24-11) will travel to Providence for an opening-round game against fourth-seed Johnson &Wales; University (27-11) at 7 p.m.

The KSC women’s soccer team, which lost to Eastern Connecticut (1-0, OT) in the semifinals of the LEC tournament, will be making its eighth trip to the ECAC championships. The Owls won the ECAC Division III title in 2005 and as a Division II member in 1986, 1987, and 1993.

Last year, KSC dropped a second-round game to Springfield College (2-0).

Western New England, which lost to Roger Williams College (1-0) in the semifinals of the Commonwealth Coast Conference tournament, will be facing the Owls for the second time this season. KSC defeated the Golden Bears (6-0) on September 5.

After a long postseason drought, the KSC women’s volleyball team is making its second consecutive appearance in the ECAC tournament. The Owls are looking to regroup after losing a heartbreaking semifinal match to Eastern Connecticut (3-2) in the LEC tournament. Making the program’s first postseason trip since 1982 last season, KSC defeated Rivier (3-1) before falling to Brandeis (3-0) in a semifinal match last year.

The Wildcats of Johnson & Wales lost a tough 3-2 match to Rivier in the championship game of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference.