Keene, NH 11/12/08 -  The top seeded Keene State College women's soccer team cruised to 8-0 shutout victory over eighth seed Lasell College in an ECAC quarterfinal matchup at Owl Athletic Complex on Wednesday. 

The Owls (16-7) will host the University of New England in a semifinal game on Saturday at noon.  UNE, the fourth seed, edged fifth seed Curry 3-2 in its first-round game. Lasell completes its season with a 10-6-2 record. 

Sophomore Katie Bradford (Lebanon, NH) and freshman Britni Watkinson (Rochester, NH) both notched a pair of goals in the Owls' dominating victory.

The Owls jumped out a 1-0 lead at the 22:44 mark of the first half. Kendra Spencer (Petoskey, MI) sent a touch pass over to a sprinting Michelle Boland (Worcester, MA) who netted her 13th goal of the season.

Seven minutes later junior Molly Brunelle (Walpole, NH) sent a lead pass over to Nora Mahoney (Belchertown, MA).  The junior sped past a defender and put the ball past the outstretched arms of the Lasers keeper to make it a 2-0 game.

Mahoney and Boland hooked up again later in the first half.  Boland caught the pass perfectly on her toe and scored off a quick shot staking KSC to a 3-0 halftime lead.

Keene State dominated play inn the second half scoring five more goals. Bradford scored the Owls' next two goals, her 18th and 19th of the season five minutes apart.  Watkinson came off the bench to score her third and fourth of the season.  Freshman Tara Nathan (Bethel, CT) completed the offensive barrage with a goal at the 80:23 mark.

Lasers starting goalie Jamie Remmers (West Islip, NY) finished with eight saves before giving way to Elizabeth Stickley (Mashpee, MA) who stopped five shots in the second half.  Three Owl keepers shared the shutout.  Junior Samantha Hirsh (Holliston, MA) and freshman Leah Swanson (Wakefield, RI) made one save each while freshman Megan Dempsey (Weymouth, MA) finished up the goaltending chores in the second half.

Keene State is making its ninth trip to the ECAC championships.  The Owls won the ECAC Division III title in 2005 and as a Division II member in 1986, 1987, and 1993.