SALEM, MASS. - The Keene State field hockey team captured its sixth straight and eighth overall Little East Conference regular season championship with a 1-0 shutout win over Salem State on Wednesday. The Owls have won the title outright seven times and shared the 2005 crown with Plymouth State.

Keene State (13-4, 9-0 LEC), which has posted its sixth shutout of the season, will be the top seed in the upcoming LEC tournament.  "It's huge for us, "said KSC Coach Amy Watson.  "Now we can prepare on the surface that we feel the most comfortable."

The game-winning goal was scored by junior midfielder Erin Dallas (Marlow, N.H.) on a corner opportunity 5:16 into the second half. Senior back Alyssa Rowell (Queensbury, N.Y.) sent a cross to Dallas who lifted the ball in to the net for her team leading 10th goal of the season.

"It wasn't our best game of the year, but we got it done," said Watson.  "I'm glad we didn't have to wait until the end of the season to clinch the top spot."

The Owls held a 9-5 advantage in shots and a 6-2 margin in penalty corners over the Lady Vikings  (7-7 overall; 4-5 LEC).

KSC junior netminder Vikki Stoessel (Derry, N.H.) stopped three shots to register her fourth shutout of the season.

Keene State returns home for a homecoming game against Fitchburg State on Saturday (1:30 p.m.).