'KEENE, N.H. 5/1/07 -  Andrea Mitchell's (Bow, N.H.) sudden death goal at the 2:09 mark in the third overtime period lifted third seed Keene State College to a dramatic 12-11 victory over sixth seed Rhode Island College in a Little East Conference women's lacrosse quarterfinal game played Tuesday night at Owl Athletic Complex.

Keene State (8-5) advanced to the semifinals where they will face second seed Plymouth State on Thursday in Plymouth.  RIC concludes its season with a 3-11 record.

Keene State gained possession of the ball in the third overtime and waited for a good scoring opportunity.  Mitchell went behind the net and came out in front to score the winning goal.  "I just went in and took a quick shot," said Mitchell.  "I didn't see it go in.  I just saw the ripple of the net."

Keene State took a 9-7 lead on a goal by Megan Moran (Derry, N.H.) with 3:08 to play.  The Anchorwomen scored two goals in the final 1:33 to send the game into overtime. Caitlin Gavin (Portsmouth, R.I.) made it 9-8 and Kerry McDivitt (Jamestown, R.I.) scored on a free position goal with 13 second to play after KSC goalie Jen Gearing (Westfield, Mass.) was whistled for an infraction.  In the closing seconds of regulation, Gearing was issued a red card and the Owls were forced to play with an untested Dene Tully (Peabody, Mass.) in goal.

"Coach (Michelle) Mason asked for volunteers and I just decided to do," said Tully.  "I was very nervous."

The two team trade goals in the first overtime.  Sydney Culbertson (North Kingstown, R.I.) put RIC ahead 10-9 and Mitchell answered for the Owls.  In the second overtime, Genna Florkowski (East Northport, N.Y.) scored to give KSC an 11-10 lead, but Culbertson scored with 33 seconds to send the game into the sudden death overtime period.

Michelle scored three goals and Florkowski and Melissa Stopera (Scotia Glenville, N.Y.) finished with two goals each for the Owls.  Florkowski also had two assists.

Culbertson had four goals and two assists to lead RIC.  Gavin added three goals and an assist.

Gearing had 10 saves for KSC. Tully was not credited with a save.  Katie Kielbasinki (Windsor, Conn.) stopped 14 shots for the Anchorwomen.

This will be KSC's sixth consecutive trip to the semifinals.  They lost to Plymouth 16-5 in last year's semifinal round.