'KEENE, N.H. (March 8, 2006) - The Keene State College women's lacrosse team fell 9-6 to Endicott College in season-opening non-conference action Wednesday afternoon at  Owl Athletic Complex. With the score knotted at 4-4, the Gulls netted three straight goals to take a commanding 7-4 lead early in the second half on the way to the win.

The loss spoiled the return of senior attackman Colleen Murphy (Mansfield, Mass.) to the KSC team.  Murphy, who missed the entire 2005 season with an illness, scored the Owls' first two goals and added a pair of assists.  "I was happy to be back.  Unfortunately, we didn't win, but we played hard," she said.  "I had a lot to make up for last year, so I wanted to come out strong."

Kristal Lundegaard (Babylon, N.Y.) had three goals and Stephanie Georgevits (Concord, N.H.) added a single goal for the Owls.

Cathy Sharp (Rurland, Vt.) led Endicott to its first win of the season with four goals and an assist.  Shiori Tachiwana (Kanagawa, Japan) finished with two goals and Emily Judd (Peabody, Mass.), Alex Pearce (Underhill Vt.) and Heather Hatfield (Tyngsboro, Mass.) had a goal each for Endicott.

Mandy Gray (Sharon, Mass.) finished with eight saves for the Owls.  Erin Curry (Hampstead, N.H.) stopped 12 shots for the Gulls.

Keene State (0-1) will travel to Florida for three games next week.  The Owls will face Howard University on Monday in West Palm Beach.  Endicott College (1-1) hosts Southern Maine on Friday (4 p.m.).