'DANBURY, CT - The Keene State College men's lacrosse team remained tied  for the top sport In the Little East Conference with a 16-11 victory over in Danbury, on Saturday. 

The Colonials (5-7, 1-3) and the Owls (9-1, 4-0) were very evenly matched in the first quarter, but two goals by Owls freshman attack Tony Santa Fe (Derry, N.H) and one by junior attack Sean Panora (South Windsor, Conn.) gave the Owls a 3-2 lead after one quarter. 

In the second quarter, the Colonials tied the game at three goals apiece as sophomore midfielder Dennis Skarda (Danbury, CT) tallied an unassisted goal with 13:35 to go in the half.  The Owls then began to pull away, going on a 7-0 run to end the quarter including three more goals by Panora including the final goal of the half with just two seconds showing on the clock to give the Owls a 10-3 halftime lead.  Panora, who finished the game with five goals has a team-high 32 on the season. Ryan Hazelton (Chester, N.H.) and Santa Fe had three goals each in the game.

Keene State picked up right where they left off in the third quarter scoring the first two goals of the frame to take a commanding 12-3 lead with 9:14 remaining on the clock.  The Colonials refused to go away, however, as they scored the final five goals of the third quarter, to make it a 12-8 game, as John Stashenko scored his second goal of the game and sophomore midfielder Brian Gildae (Norwalk, CT) also had two goals. 

With 13:27 to go in the fourth quarter, Stashenko made it a three goal game, 12-9.  The three goal differential would be as close as the Colonials would come, however, as the game was evenly played for the remainder of the contest leading to a 16-11 victory for the Owls.  Keene State goal keeper Matt Johnson (Derry, N.H.) made a career-high 19 saves for the victory. 

Keene State has a week off to prepare for its key LEC game at Eastern Conn. next Saturday.  WestConn travels to UMass Boston on Saturday.