KEENE, NH 9/22/01 - The Keene State College field hockey team reMEd undefeated in the Little East Conference with a 3-0 shutout victory over rival Plymouth State, before a Homecoming Day crowd in Keene on Saturday.

Tanya Strong (Hatfield, MA.) had a goal and an assist to lead KSC (5-3, 3-0 LEC), which has won five out of its last six games. Plymouth State falls to 3-4 (2-1 LEC).

Taking a feed from Nichole Dallas (Marlow, NH), Strong netted her third goal of the season to give the Owls a early 1-0 lead. Solid play by Panther goalie Ellen Ward (Thorndike, Me.) prevented KSC from extended its lead in the half.

KSC was finally able to add two more goals in the second half. Liz Peltokenges's (New Ipswich, NH) second goal of the season made it 2-0. And Melissa Harch-Smith (Newburyport, MA.) completed the Owls' scoring with a goal off a corner play late in the game. It was her team-leading sixth goal of the season.

'It was a tremendous win for our entire team,' said Strong. 'It puts us first in the conference. When it comes down in the end, we obviously want to have the Tournament here on our field because it gives us an advantage.'

Lindsay Hamilton (Brattleboro, NH) had fives saves and Amy Carroll (Brunswick, Me.) had two saves late in the game to post the combine shutout. Ward finished the game with seven saves for the Panthers.

It was the second victory of the season for the Owls over the defending LEC Champion Panthers this season. KSC edged PSC 2-1 in the consolation game of the Skidmore Tournament back on Sept. 9.

KSC will be at Trinity College (4 p.m.) on Tuesday.