Keene State women's soccer and volleyball teams set for ECAC semifinals on Saturday

KEENE, N.H. 11/11/11- Keene State College women’s soccer and volleyball teams will continue play in their respective ECAC New England tournaments with semifinal games on Saturday. 

The second-seeded Keene State women’s soccer team (14-7-2) travels down to Worcester State University where it will face sixth seeded St. Joseph College (12-6-2) of West Hartford, Conn. in a game scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.  Seeded fourth in the ECAC women’s volleyball tournament, the Owls (19-13) have a little long trip, heading down to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn, where it will go up against the top-seeded Bears ( in an 11 a.m. match. 

Keene State, the two-time defending ECAC champs, advanced to the semifinals with a 1-0 quarterfinal victory over seventh seed Norwich on Wednesday.   Junior forward Joan Hamel (Weare, N.H.) netted the game-winning goal for the Owls late in the second half. 

A member of the Great Northeast Conference, the Blue Jays stamped their ticket to the semifinals with a 2-1 upset win over third seed Salve Regina.  Senior Stacey Rutledge scored on a penalty kick with 5:42 left to play to break a 1-1 tie. 

It will be the first meeting between the two teams. 

Top seed and host Worcester State will take on fourth seed UMass-Boston in Saturday’s first semifinal game at noon.  The two semifinal winners will face each other in the championship game on at Worcester State on Sunday (12 p.m.). 

Looking to defend its ECAC title, the Keene State posted a come-from-behind 3-2 win over fifth seed Salve Regina in quarterfinal action on Wednesday.  Bridget O’Bryant (Merrimack, N.H.), Kristen Girard (Red Hook, N.Y.) and Ellyse Davis (Londonderry, N.H.) combined for 50 of the Owls 59 kills in the victory.

The Owls have yet to beat Coast Guard, dropping matches 3-1in 2008 and 2009.

“Coast Guard has more of a traditional rhythm and that fit's us ok," said KSC Coach Bob Weiner. "But they are a complete team and we have to show up and play if we are going to have a chance."

Coast Guard moved on the second-round with a 3-0 win over eighth seed Framingham State. The Bears, who shared the NEWMAC regular season title with Springfield, were led by juniors Catherine Walker, Keriann Mason and sophomore Kelsey DePorto who each had seven kills in the match.

Second seed Plymouth State will take on third seed Endicott in the second semifinal that will be played at 2:00 p.m. The championship match will be played at 5 p.m.