KEENE, N.H. 4/17/08 - The Keene State College women's lacrosse team overcame a three goal halftime deficit to post a 9-7 non-conference win over Smith College at Owls Athletic Complex on Thursday.

            With the win, KSC (9-4) tied the program record for consecutive wins (6) set in 2001 and 2003.

            Trailing 6-3 at the break, the Owls scored three goals in a span of 1:23 to tie the game at six-all.  Freshman Jill Kirk (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y.) got the tying goal and later scored at the 18:32 mark to give the Owls a 7-6 lead.

            "We needed a wake-up call after the first half," said KSC Coach Michelle Mason.  "I just reminded them about basic fundamentals that we weren't doing"

            Smith freshman Caitlin Kennedy (Hadley, Mass.) tied the score with an unassisted goal with just over six minutes to play.

            KSC senior Lanaya Nelson (Chester, Conn.) passed to a cutting Jamie Albert (Southington, Conn.) for the game-winning goal two minutes later.

            The Owls controlled possession of the ball over the final four minutes not giving the Pioneers an opportunity to tie the game.

            "With the lead, I told the players to settle down and control the ball." said Mason.  "You can't score if you don't have the ball."

            Throughout the game, Smith goalie Sara Smith (Brooklyn, N.Y.) had not place to outlet the ball. "We've been working on marking up tight at the midfield and that way a key to the game," said senior defender Molly Corcoran (Concord, N.H.).

            Nelson scored an unassisted goal for KSC in the final seconds of play.

            Kirk, who finished the game with four goals, has a team-leading 36 goals on the season.  Sophomore midfielder Dene Tully (Peabody, Mass.) scored twice, and Nelson, Albert, and Andrea Mitchell (Bow, N.H.) had single goals.  Lauren Sawyer (Westbrook, Me.) and Nelson had four and three assists respectively.

            Senior attack Sara Smyth had four goals to lead Smith (4-7).  Kennedy scored the other threes goals for the Pioneers.

            Junior goalie Jen Gearing (Westfield, Mass.) finished the game with 11 saves for the Owls.  Smith stopped 12 shots for the Pioneers.

            The game marked the first meeting between the two teams.

            Keene State hosts Eastern Conn. in a key Little East game on Saturday (1 p.m.) Smith College hosts Wheaton College on Saturday (11:30 a.m.).