KEENE, N.H.  10/18/08 - The Keene State field hockey team took another step towards its seventh overall and third straight Little East Conference regular season championship with a 4-1 win over Worcester State on Saturday.

A win by Southern Maine over UMass-Dartmouth later today will secure the title for the Owls (12-4, 8-0 LEC) and the top seed in the conference's post-season tournament.  The loss dropped Worcester State to 9-6 (4-3 LEC).

Keene State scored the first four goals of the game with sophomores Leigh Smith (Sanbornton, N.H.), Kelly Warning (Putnam Valley, N.Y.), senior Alyssa Rowell (Queensbury, N.Y.), and freshman Nicolette Smith (Southwick, Mass.) finding the back of the goal. It was the first college goal for Nicolette Smith.

The Owls lost their shutout with eight minutes to play when Kate Fisher (Greenfield, Mass.) scored for the Lancers.

Junior Vikki Stoessel (Derry, N.H.) finished with two saves and sophomore Meghan Ledoux (Standish, ME) who turned aside four shots, saw action in goal for KSC.

Senior Erin MacDonald (Dedham, Mass.) finished the game with five saves for Worcester State.

Both teams return to action on Wednesday, KSC is at Salem State (3:30 p.m.) and Worcester State hosts Western Conn. (7 p.m.).