KEENE, N.H. 10/30/04 - The Keene State College women's soccer team celebrated Senior Day by clinching first place in the Little East Conference and earning the top seed in the upcoming LEC tournament with a 5-0 shutout victory over UMass-Dartmouth at Owl Athletic Complex on Saturday.

It is the fourth time the Owls (11-5-2, 6-0-1) have either won or tied for the regular season title and the third straight year they are hosting the tournament. The top seed in the tournament, KSC will get a first round bye and host a semifinal game on Friday (1 p.m.).

"We've had an up-and-down season, so it's great to get the top seed and host the tournament," said KSC Coach Denise Lyons. "We put everything together in the first half and took care of business."

Michelle Harmon (Nashua, N.H.) led the way for KSC with a goal and an assist.

Keene State pulled out to a 4-0 halftime lead. Brittany Faulkner (Lebanon, N.H.) opened the scoring when she dribbled down the right side and buried a shot into the far corner of the net. Missy Mengual (East Berlin, Conn.) extended the lead six minutes later when she knocked in Tara Wagner's (Avon, Conn.) corner kick.

The Owls completed their first half barrage with goals 19 seconds apart by Courtney Gately (Canton, Mass.) and Harmon. Gately put in a rebound and Harmon connected on a blast from 20-yards out.

One of the four seniors on the squad, Amber-Lynn Lyman (Hinesburg, Vt.) added a second half goal. Goalie Michelle Mason (Fairport, N.Y.) made seven saves for her eighth shutout of the season and 42nd of her career. Beth Vachon (Amherst, N.H.), Kerri Paquette (Millbury, Mass.), Mason and Lyman were honored prior to the start of the game.

Amanda Tavares (Dartmouth, Mass.) finished with 11 saves for UMD(10-6-1, 2-4-1 LEC).