NORTHAMPTON, MASS. 9/12/07 - Freshman forward Katie Braford (Lebanon, N.H).) came back from an early game collision  to score a pair of second half goals to lead the Keene State women's soccer team to a 2-0 non-conference shutout victory over Smith College in Northampton on Wednesday.

Keene State improves to 4-2. The Pioneers fell to 0-3 on the season. 

After a scoreless first half, the Owls got on the board 25 minutes into the second half.  Bradford tracked down a pass from Molly Brunelle (Walpole, N.H.) in the box and was able to beat the Smith  keeper Marlowe Dieckmann. Five minutes later Bradford scored her second goal of the game and fourth of the season at 75:26 with the assist from Kendra Spencer '10 (Petoskey, MI) to secure the victory for the Owls.  Bradford recieved the ball from Spencer on the right side of the box and found the back left corner of the net.  

"I think I found a natural goal scorer," said KSC Coach Denise Lyons. "Katie has a knack for finding the back of the net and will only get better as she gets accustomed to her teammates."

Smith keeper Lauren Bachtel '09 (Dublin, OH) started in goal, but was sidelined at the 13:28 mark after she stepped off her line to save a potential goal and collided with Bradford.  Bradford had to leave the game and didn't return until the second half. Bachtel tallied two saves while Marlowe Dieckmann '09 (Oakland, CA) made nine saves in the loss for the Pioneers. 

Samantha Hirsh (Holliston, Mass.) finished with 10 saves to notch her second shutout of the season. 

Keene State plays its first Little East game of the season on Saturday (1 p.m.) when it hosts Southern Maine.