Katie Arsenault and her Keene State College women’s lacrosse team are on a roll.  How good are things going for the Owls?  Even a rebuilding season turned into a Little East Conference championship and record-breaking season for the team last spring after the Owls defeated Western Conn. State 13-7 for their second straight title and third crown in the past four years.

Set to begin her fifth season as the Owl head coach, Arsenault has led the team to unprecedented success during her shot tenure.  Since taking the reins of the program, she has led the team to a 54-23 overall record, including an impressive 20-4 mark in the LEC.  KSC has captured three conference tournament titles and NCAA berths (2009, 2011-2012) and the LEC regular season and ECAC New England crown in 2010.

None of accomplishments have been more impressive than last year’s tile when the Owls, who had lost eight seniors and still managed to set a program record for wins (15-4) and capture the LEC tournament.  Last year also saw Arsenault take over as the program’s all-time leader in coaching victories. 

Why have the Owls’ been successful during Arsenault’s time of the sideline? “A lot of our success comes from the resources we have at Keene State; a strength and conditioning coach, the ability to watch video and get out on the turf early for our preseason, it’s very motivating for the players and allows me to mold the team,” said Arsenault.  “We also have the players.  Keene State is school players want to come to for lacrosse.”

Many of those players have earned conference honors.  Since 2009, KSC has produced 18 All-Conference players, including Sammi Benson, Lauren Brown , Nicole Curry and Ashley Borjeson, who earned the honor last season.

Arsenault, a native of Wayland, Mass., brought a strong playing and coaching background to her position.  Prior to joining the KSC program, she spent two seasons as an assistant at her alma mater, Colby-Sawyer College.  Arsenault was a three-time All-Conference defender for the Chargers.  Arsenault also played four varsity seasons at Wayland (Mass.) High School where she was selected as a conference All-Star and defensive MVP as a senior.

Setting about the task of putting her stamp on the program, Arsenault looks to build on the past four season's success and establish the Owls as perennial contenders for the conference championship.