KEENE, N.H.  11/8/08 - The Keene State field hockey team now has one for the thumb.  The Owls captured their fifth straight Little East Conference Championship and seventh overall title with a 4-0 victory over rival Plymouth State University at Owl Athletic Complex on Saturday. 

KSC won the championship the past four years as well as in 1998 and 1999.  The Owls also advanced to the finals in 2003 and 2000. KSC has an all-time record of 22-4 in LEC tournament play.

Junior midfielder Erin Dallas (Marlow, N.H.), who was named the tournament's MVP for the second year in a row, led KSC to the win with a two goals and an assist.  Last season, she scored the game-winning goal in overtime as the Owls defeated Southern Maine 2-1.

"It's awesome to win a championship game with a couple of goals and a shutout," said Dallas.  "We came in pumped, ready to play our rivals today."

"We were fired up to play in the championship game," said KSC Coach Amy Watson, who earned her 250th career victory.  "This team came along way this season.  Hopefully we'll be ready for the next step and win in the first-round of the NCAA tournament for the first time."

Keene State (18-5) earns the conference's automatic berth to the NCAA Division III championships.  The pairings will be announced on Sunday night.  Plymouth goes to 13-7 and awaits a possible ECAC tournament berth.

Freshman Elizabeth Coffin (Sugar Hill, N.H.) gave KSC a 1-0 lead at the 6:45 mark when she tipped a shot by junior midfielder Lindy Caslin (Bennington, Vt.) past PSU goalie Elyse Sedgley.  It was her fourth goal of the season.

 The Owls added to their lead just before the end of the half on a picture-perfect pass play that was finished off by senior back Alyssa Rowell (Queensbury, N.Y.).  Junior forward Carly Benning (Brewster, Mass.) and Dallas had assists on the play.

KSC put the game out of reach with a pair of insurance goals early in the second half.  Dallas blasted a shot from five-yards out to make it a 3-0 game at the 40:17 mark.  Four minutes later, Dallas netted her second of the game, and 12th of the season  when she knocked in a crossing ball from senior back Samantha Blanchard (Amesbury, Mass.),  who finished the game with a pair of assists.

KSC out shot PSU 14-4 and had a 13-3 margin on corner opportunities.

KSC junior goalie Vikki Stoessel (Derry, N.H.) stopped two shots to notch her sixth shutout of the season.  Sedgley finished the game with five saves for the Panthers.

This is the fifth time rivals Keene State and Plymouth State have hooked up in the LEC championship game. The Owls defeated the Panthers in 1998 (3-1), 1999 (1-0), and 2004 (2-0).  Plymouth defeated Keene State 1-0 in the 2000 finals.

Following the game the LEC announced its All-Conference team.  Dallas, Benning, and Rowe1l, who was named the LEC defensive player of the year for the second straight season, were first-team picks.