KEENE, N.H. 10/11/08 - The Keene State women's field hockey team remained undefeated in Little East Conference play with a 4-2 victory over the University of Southern Maine at Owl Athletic Complex on Saturday. The game was a rematch of last year's LEC final, won by KSC 2-1 in overtime.

The Owls (11-3, 7-0 LEC) have won 16 straight regular season LEC contests, last losing to Framingham State back on Sept. 15, 2007.

The Owls, who extended their winning streak to five games, got goals from four different players in Saturday's win over the Huskies (7-6, 4-3 LEC).

KSC scored inside the first minute of play when Liz Rand (Peterborough, N.H.) knocked in a crossing pass from junior forward Carly Benning (Brewster, Mass.) for her fifth goal of the season. Freshman forward Aislynn Sherry (Rehoboth, Mass.) upped the lead to 2-0 when she redirected a cross from junior midfielder Erin Dallas (Marlow, N.H.).  USM junior forward India Lowe (Gloucester, Mass.) scored on a rebound to cut the Owls' lead in half just before the break.

Benning tipped in her seventh goal of the season to make it 3-1 early in the second half and senior back Alyssa Rowell (Queensbury, N.Y.) scored on a one-timer to extend KSC's lead to 4-1.  Lowe scored her second goal of the game for USM with just under eight minutes to play.

KSC junior goalie Vikki Stoessel (Derry, N.H.) had a strong game in goal, finishing with 12 saves.  USM freshman goalie Alison Hill (Cape Elizabeth, Me.) turned aside eight shots.

KSC had a slim advantage in shots while USM had more corner opportunities. "We got up on them early and that was definitely an advantage," said KSC Coach Amy Watson.  Southern Maine is a good strong team, their corners are dangerous. We were lucky to jump on them early because if we hadn't, the results could've been different."

Keene State hosts Middlebury College on Tuesday (6 p.m.).  USM hosts Bates on Wednesday (4:30 p.m.).