WILLIMANTIC, Conn. --Sophomore midfielder Tara Wagner (Avon, CT) had a goal and two assists to power the Keene State College women's soccer team to a 3-2 win over Eastern Connecticut State University and into first place in the Little East Conference Saturday afternoon at Thomas Nevers Field.

With its fourth win in its last five outings, Keene (9-4-1, 4-0-1 little east) moves ahead of Eastern (11-3-1-, 4-1-0) and into first place in the conference. The teams had shared last year's conference regular-season crown before the Warriors won the conference playoff final on penalty kicks at Keene, NH. Keene is ranked eighth in New England, Eastern fourth in New England and tied for 23rd in Division III. The teams shared the top spot in the LEC pre-season poll.

"It was a war in the first half with a good deal of physical play," said KSC Coach Denise Lyons. We were able to jump on them in the second half, create opportunities and finish.

The game was like an emotional roller-coaster. We tired near the end, but held them off. We're now sitting in the driver's seat when it comes to home field for the tournament."

Keene snapped a scoreless match 13 minutes into the second half when Wagner collected a loose ball in the box and beat Eastern freshman keeper Megan Gloster (Agawam, MA) from close range. The Owls pushed the lead to 3-0 when they later scored twice in a span of seven minutes before the Warriors answered with two goals inside the final ten minutes.

Stationed at the far left post, first-year sophomore midfielder Breanne Lucey (Keene, NH) headed in Wagner's long pass from the baseline to give Keene a 2-0 lead in the 71st minute, and sophomore midfielder Lisa Bergeron (Keene, NH) made it 3-0 seven minutes later. She drove a 12-yarder into an unattended net after receiving a short cross from Lucey, who improved her team-leading totals to ten goals and 24 points with a goal and assist.

Eastern, which had not given up more than one goal in its last nine matches, finally broke through with ten minutes left after squandering a half-dozen ideal scoring chances. Senior midfielder Megan Taylor (Manchester, Conn.) scored her fourth goal of the year when she hammered an 18-yarder just under the crossbar, and senior forward Jen Ferrari (Coventry, RI) cut the deficit to one goal when she scored her team-leading 13th goal of the year on a short pass in the box from senior midfielder Nicole Swantee (Thompson, Conn.) with 1:06 left.

Eastern hit the post twice in the second half. With Eastern trailing 1-0 midway through the half, Keene's pass in its defensive end across the middle of the box landed at the feet of junior forward Caitlin Buzzell (Manchester, Conn.), whose drive caromed off the left post. With Eastern trailing 3-1 with four minutes left, Swantee walked in all alone in the right corner of the box, but her blast from 12 yards bounced off the far left post. Buzzell was there for the rebound but sent it over the crossbar.

Against Eastern in conference play, Keene improved to 8-1-1, 5-0-0 at Nevers Field. Eastern hosts Bridgewater State College Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. KSC hosts Tufts on Tuesday (5 p.m.).

(Courtesy ECSU Sports Information)