KEENE, N.H. 10/29/09 - Heading into the final weekend of the
regular season, the Little East Conference playoff picture is as
clear as a car windshield after going through a large, muddy
puddle.
However, if you're a Keene State fall fan the picture is very
transparent. Heading into this weekend, this is what we
know: Both women's soccer and volleyball teams
tournament status are set. The KSC women's soccer team
(11-5-2, 5-0-1 LEC) has already clinched the top seed in the
tournament. They will get a first-round bye and host a
semifinal game on Tuesday at 6 p.m. The Owl volleyball team
(16-15, 4-2 LEC) will be the fourth seed in the tournament and host
a quarterfinal match at Spaulding Gym on Tuesday (6 p.m.).
The scenario for both KSC field hockey and men's soccer is simple,
win on Saturday and secure the top seed. Regardless of
Saturday's outcome, both teams are in the tournament.
However, a lose scrambles the picture, taking away the top-seed and
much-coveted home field advantage in later rounds.
Shooting for its sixth straight LEC tournament title, the Keene
State field hockey team (14-4, 8-2 LEC) must get by UMass-Dartmouth
(11-5, 9-1 LEC) on Saturday to secure the top seed. Both
teams' warm-up for the showdown with non-conference games on
Thursday. KSC players know what's at stake on Saturday.
"We're using every play, practice, and game between now and then to
get ready," said senior goalie Vikki
Stoessel. "There's a lot at stake and we're going to
do our best to make sure the ball bounces our way."
"We have to come out with a lot of intensity, but we also need to
have fun," said senior Carly Benning, who leads
the LEC with 19 goals. "The more we have fun, the more we
play as a team and the better we do."
Unlike past years when the Owls had nailed down the top seed
earlier, this season has been more challenging for Coach
Amy Watson's squad. "The conference is
stronger this season," she said. "No one feels like anything
is a sure thing this year."
The Owls have history on their side. Keene State owns a
dominating 15-1 series advantage against UMass-Dartmouth in LEC
play, outscoring the Corsairs 47-9 during that span. The
Corsairs' lone win (3-1) came last season in North Dartmouth.
The two teams met in the 2006 conference finals with the Owls
winning 2-1.
If the Keene State men's soccer team (12-6, 5-1 LEC) hopes to
clinch the top seed in the LEC tournament, it must do it on the
road at Southern Maine (7-8-2, 2-3-1 LEC) on Saturday.
Fighting for its own tournament life, USM must also win to extend
their season.
After accumulating a 9-0-1 record in LEC play against USM from
1997-2006, the Owls have lost two of their three meetings against
the Huskies. Both losses, a 1-0 setback in 2007 and a
shocking 5-0 defeat last fall, took place in Gorham.
"For some reason, we always seem to struggle up there," said KSC
Coach Ron Butcher. "It's a small field and
not an easy place to play."
Regardless of the location, Butcher feels his young Owls will get
the job done. Leading up to the game, the Owl coaching staff
has been harping on one message: "You've gotten this far, don't let
it slip away."
Winners of five Little East tournament crowns, Keene State has had
a reversal of fortune of the soccer field this fall. After
going 6-10-3 (2-4-1 LEC) in 2007 and missing the LEC tournament for
the first time, the Owls have bounced back with this year's
successful season.
"It's nice to be knocking at the door after not being a part of the
show last season," said Butcher.
Asked to explain his teams' turnaround, Butcher used two
words: talent and speed. "We brought in a lot of
freshmen and six are starting he said. "They've made a huge
difference. Last year, we had no speed and this year we have
speed and quickness."
Butcher hopes his teams' talent and speed with be the difference on
Saturday.
