EENE, N.H. 11/9/02 - The Keene State College women's soccer team over came a two goal deficit to capture its first-ever Little East Conference Tournament Championship with a 3-2 victory over Western Connecticut State University in Keene, N.H. on Saturday.

Freshman Jenna Jezierski (N. Grosvenordale, CT) goal with 53 seconds left to play was the game-winner for the Owls (19-2-1), who tied the school record for wins in a season (set last year) and consecutive victories (10-set in 1990).

With time running down Jezierski fired in a shot for the left side that found the top corner of the net.  "As soon as I saw an open ball in the box, I knew I could get there and just did everything I could to shoot hard and it went in."

Playing tentative in the opening minutes, the top seeded Owls fell behind 2-0 in the game.  Cherie Bailey (Middletown, Conn) converted a crossing ball from Nicole Corbin Clinton, CT) to give the third-seeded Colonials a 1-0 lead three minutes into the game.  WCSU (16-4-1) extended its advantage to 2-0 at the 10:04 mark when Corbin fed Christie Gillis (Naugatuck, CT) for a goal following a mix-up in the Owls' backfield.

Keene State cut the deficit to 2-1 three minutes later when Erin Lester (Walpole, N.H.) knocked in a crossing ball from Katie Parkinson (So. Kingstown, R.I.).

The Owls got the equalizer on a penalty kick from Lester at the 41:02 mark of the second half.  The kick was called after Jennifer Ortisi was taken down in the box by Colonials goalie Kristen Bartholomew (Bethel, CT).

Lester scored on a low shot to the far right side.  It was her team-leading 18th of the season.  That set the stage for the game-winner by Jezierski in the closing minute of play.

It was emotional come-from-behind win for Keene State, which had lost to Western CT in the last three LEC Championship games.

"We wanted it real bad," said Lester, who was selected as the tournament MVP.  "We were shell-shocked in the beginning, but we got ourselves together and played really well the rest of the game."

"Even though we were two goals behind, we never gave up," said KSC Coach Denise Lyons.  "We fought for 90 minutes.  I knew if we got the rhythm going we could pull it off. It's a sweet victory, now the monkey is off our back."

KSC goalie Michelle Mason (Fairport, N.Y.) and WC netminder Kristen Bartholomew, each finished the game with four saves.

With the win KSC earns the LEC's automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.  It will be the Owls eighth trip to the NCAAs and their second berth as a Division III member. KSC last went to the Championships in 1998.