'KEENE, N.H. 11/7/03 - Jennifer Ortisi (Allenstown, N.H.) scored
two goals in a span of 1:38 early in the second half to lead the
top-seeded Keene State College women's soccer team to a 3-0 shutout
victory over fourth-seed Western Conn. State University in a Little
East Conference semifinal game played Friday at Owl Athletic
Complex.
KSC (13-5-2), the defending LEC champ, will be making its fifth
appearance in the finals scheduled for 12:30 p.m. on
Saturday. The Owls will face second seed Eastern Conn., which
advanced with a 1-0 victory over sixth-seed Rhode Island College in
the other semifinal contests.
Pressing for the go-ahead goal after the break, KSC finally got
on the board on a bad angle shot by Ortisi that went through the
hands of Colonials goalie Kristen Bartholomew (Bethel,
Conn.). Ortisi doubled the Owls' lead just over a minute
later with a short blast from 12-yards out. It was the ninth and
10th goals of the season for the senior midfielder.
"It was awesome, we really needed this game," said Ortisi.
"If we lost today my season was done. I was not letting that
happen."
"Jenn stepped up her game, " added KSC Coach Denise Lyons.
"We made an adjustment at half-time to put her on the other side
and it turned out to be a good move."
Looking to increase KSC's lead, Katie Stevens (Londonderry,
N.H.) was denied by a sliding save by Bartholomew.
KSC goalie Michelle Mason (Fairport, N.Y.) kept WCSU off the
scoreboard when she stood her ground and deflected a shot by
Jessica Gomes (Wallingford, Conn.) who broke in on a clear
breakaway.
Sarah Miller (Walpole, N.H.) added an insurance goal for the
Owls with six minutes remaining when she was sent in by Courtney
Gately (Canton, Mass.).
Both teams had opportunities to get on the board in a scoreless
first half. Katie Parkinson's (South Kingstown, R.I.) shot
for 24-yards out just missed the top far corner for
KSC. Later in the half, WCSU's J Gomes drive was
deflected by Heather Kates, (Great Falls, Mont.) into the hands of
Owl goalie Mason at the corner of the net.
Mason had four saves to record her ninth shutout of the season.
Bartholomew finished the game with eight saves for WCSU (12-5-3).
