'KEENE, N.H. 4/21/07 - The Keene State College men's lacrosse team secured the top spot in the Little East regular season and the top seed in the upcoming LEC tournament with a 12-5 victory over Eastern Connecticut State University at Owl Athletic Complex on Saturday.

Ranked 25th nationally, the undefeated Owls (11-0, 5-0 LEC) tied the school record with their 11th straight win.  Eastern Conn. (6-7, 4-1 LEC) defeated KSC 14-12 in last year's LEC championship game played in Willimantic. The two teams have met in the last four LEC finals.

"We led all the way and I'm pleased with the outcome," said KSC Coach Mark Theriault. "Everyone has to come to us now.  It's hard to win at Eastern, so it's important that we secured to top seed for the tournament."

Tony Santa Fe (Derry, N.H.) and Sean Panora (South Windsor, Conn.) led a balanced Owl offense with three goals each.  Mike Fontaine (Wolfeboro, N.H.) a former Warrior player had two goals, and Peter Lauranzano (Beverly, Mass.), Mike LeSage (Exeter, N.H.), Ryan Hazelton (Chester, N.H.), and Casey Brodersen (Derry, N.H.) finished with a goal a piece. Panora tops the Owls with 27 goals. LeSage and Luaranzano also had two assists in the game.

Tom Laverty (Westport, Conn.) scored two goals and Dave Carpenter (Redding, Conn.) had a goal and an assist to led ECSU.  Matthew Savage (Southington, Conn.) and Pete Hamilton (Rutland, Vt.) added single goals.

With the scored knotted at one-all, Santa Fe, Hazelton, Panora, and LeSage scored consecutive goals to give KSC a 5-1 lead after the first quarter.  The Owls three more time in the second quarter before Savage found the back of the net for the Warriors late in the second quarter.

Fourth in (Division III), the KSC defense took over from there.  "Mike McCarthy told said to me at halftime, "have the offense score a few more goals and we'll take care of the rest on defense," said Theriault. They're a confident, poised first unit."

LeSage also had a fine day in the face-off circle winning 16 of 21 draws.  "I got about 75 percent, so I was pleased," he said. We've been waiting all year for this game."

Matt Johnson (Derry, N.H.), who leads the nation in save percentage (.723), had another strong game in goal with 15 saves.  Kyle Savage (Southington, Conn.) tuned aside 15 shots for the Warriors.

Both teams return to action on Tuesday with non-conference home games; KSC plays Assumption College (7 p.m.) and Eastern Conn. hosts Trinity College (4 p.m.).