'KEENE, N.H. 11/13/03 - Since joining Division III in the 1997-98 season, Keene State College men's and women's soccer and field hockey teams have come up empty in their quest for ECAC Championships.  That could all change this weekend.

All three teams took the first step toward respective ECAC titles with quarterfinal wins on Wednesday.

The top seeded KSC field hockey team (17-6) advanced with a 4-0 shutout win over eighth seed Becker College.  The Owls will have plenty of incentive when they take the field against fifth seed Clark University in Saturday's semifinal game (1:30 p.m.) at Owl Athletic Complex.  The Cougars (12-7) shutout the Owls (2-0) in last year's semifinals.

 Clark rallied with three goals in the final 17 minutes to upset fourth-seeded Plymouth State University 3-1 in their quarterfinal contest. 

The Keene State/Clark winner will go up against the Springfield/Babson winner in Sunday's championship.  If KSC prevails, the game will be played at 1 p.m. at Owl Athletic Complex.

Keene State lost 1-0 to Middlebury College in the 1997 ECAC finals.

The second-seeded Keene State College women's soccer team (14-5-3) will host third seed Salem State (12-2-6) in a semifinal game at 3 p.m. The Owls moved on after defeating seventh seed Nichols College 5-1.  

Salem State, the defending ECAC champs, scored three first half goals and hung on for a 3-2 win over sixth seed Plymouth State in its first round game.

"We've played Salem State in the past and it's always a very physical game," said KSC Coach Denise Lyons.  I expect the same type of game on Saturday."

A victory by KSC would have the Owls either traveling to first seed Brandeis or hosting fifth seed Smith College on Sunday.

Making its fifth appearance in the ECACs as a Division III member, KSC lost in the 2001 finals (3-2 OT) to Wellesley College.

The third-seeded Keene State men's soccer team heads up to Plymouth State University to face the second-seeded Panthers on Saturday (1 p.m.).

Jason Lombardo scored three first half goals to lead KSC over sixth seed WPI  (6-1) on Wednesday.  PSU and seventh seed Salve Regina University battled to a scoreless tie through two overtimes.  The Panthers prevailed 3-1 in penalty kicks.

"We won't be lacking for incentive," said KSC Coach Ron Butcher, whose Owls lost to Plymouth 3-2 earlier this season.  "It's always tough to go up to Plymouth and play on their field.  It should be another close game decided by who capitalizes on their scoring opportunities."

The KSC/PSU winner faces the winner between top seed Roger Williams and Coast Guard.  A Keene State victory and an upset win by Coast Guard will bring the ECAC title game to Owl Athletic Complex on Sunday.

 Keene State is making its second trip to the ECAC tournament as a Division III member. The Owls lost 2-0 to Tufts in the semifinal round of the 2000 championship.