KEENE, N.H. 11/7/07 - Senior forward Renee Halsey (Francestown, N.H.), playing in her final home game of her career, scored two goals to lead third seed Keene State College to a 5-0 shutout victory over sixth seed Western New England in a quarterfinal game of the ECAC Division III New England Women's Soccer tournament played in Keene on Wednesday.

"It was my last home, so I just wanted to do my best," said Halsey. "We get to play another day.  That's what it's all about."

"Renee has the speed. I tell the team to play the ball in front of her, and she will use her wheels," said KSC Coach Denise Lyons "She had great finishes on both of her goals."

"We settled down and played well in the second half," Lyons said. Hopefully, we can do well Saturday and get into the finals."

Keene State (13-8-1) will travel to Bristol, R.I. for a semifinals game against second seed Roger Williams University (1 p.m.).  RWU defeated seventh seed Curry College 1-0 on Wednesday. It will be the first ever meeting between the Hawks and Owls. 

Senior forward Kathleen Keniston (Minneapolis, Minn.) gave a 1-0 lead at the 29:15 mark when she finished off a cross ball from Nora Mahoney (Belchertown, Mass.) for her team leading 11th goal of the season.

Halsey made it a 2-0 game three minutes later.  Out on the left side, freshman midfielder Katelin Waltz (Southington, Conn.) found Halsey at the corner of the net with a great pass. Halsey one-timed a shot into the back of the net.

WNEC's best chance to get on the board came with six minutes to play in the half.  Freshman midfielder Heather Mortell (Webster, Mass.) found herself facing a wide-open net, but couldn't get a good foot on the ball.

Junior forward Sasha Daniels (Hillsboro, N.H.) had a chance to extend the Owls' lead in the closing minutes, but her shot clanged off the cross bar. .

In the second half, WNEC freshman midfielder Shannon Pescatello (Wethersfield, Conn.) was set up in front, but her shot sailed just over the cross bar.

Halsey scored her second of the game and 10th of the season on a nice individual effort to make it 3-0 at the 72:51 mark. The senior forward cut in from the left side and blasted a shot into the top corner of the net.  

Sophomore midfielder Kendra Spencer (Petoskey, Mich.) put the Owls up 4-0 three minutes later when her free kick went off the cross bar and into the net. Freshman forward Katie Bradford (Lebanon, N.H.) completed the scoring with her 10th goal of the season . Daniels had an assist on the goal.

KSC junior goalie Samantha Hirsh (Holliston, Mass.) preserved the shutout in the closing minutes when she made consecutive off of Mortell. 

Hirsh finished with four saves to record her fifth shutout of the season.   Sophomore goalie Jessica Covino (Bristol, Conn.) stopped  three shots for the Golden Bears,  who conclude their season with a 13-6-3 record.

KSC defeated WNEC 6-0 earlier this season and 2-0 in a ECAC quarterfinal game on 2005.  

The Owls  won the 2005 ECAC championship.