MEDFORD, MASS. 11/4/00 - Keene State College's 2000 field hockey season came to a close after the Owls lost 3-2 to Clark University in a semifinal game of the ECAC Division III Tournament in Medford, Mass. on Saturday.

Seeded second, the Owls conclude their season with a 17-6 record. The sixth seeded Cougars (15-6) will play Wesleyan in the Championship game on Sunday at noon. fourth seed Wesleyan (12-5) defeated top-seed Tufts University (10-8) in the other semifinal game.

Clark scored three minutes into the game when Julie Mazeika fed Lynne Casey for a goal.

The Owls scored the equalizer less than two minutes later when freshman Tanya Strong (Hatfield, Mass.) set up Kelly Smith for her team-high 17th goal of the season.

Nine minutes later the Cougars took the lead for good on a goal by Mazeika. Jessica

Smiley got an insurance goal for Clark 11 minutes into the second half on a penalty stroke. Five minutes earlier Clark goalie Lynne Bachard stopped a penalty stroke by the Owls.

The Owls fought back once again to get to within one, 3-2 on a goal by by Strong, her 12th of the season with just over 12 minutes to play. KSC had several penalty corner chances in the final minutes, but could not get the tying goal.

"We struggled in the first 20 minutes, then picked-up it up as the game went on," said KSC senior Kelly Smith. "I thought it was a team we could beat, but they took advantage of their opportunities and we didn't. They are a grass team and that was a big advantage for them."

Lindsay Hamilton (Brattleboro, Vt.) finished with nine saves for the Owls.

Wesleyan will be looking to repeat as ECAC Champions. Clark will be seeking its first ECAC title.