KEENE, N.H. 10/31/09 - The Keene State women's soccer team clinched its first Little East Conference regular season championship since 2004 with a 4-1 victory over the University of Southern Maine at Owl Athletic Complex on Saturday.

Keene State (13-5-2, 6-0-1 LEC), which earns the top seed in the upcoming LEC tournament and a first-round bye, will play the winner of the #4 Western Conn- #5 Southern Maine game on Thursday at 6 p.m.  Southern Maine will enter the tournament with a 4-14, 2-5 LEC) record.

Junior Katie Bradford (Lebanon, N.H.) netted two goals and added an assist to lead the Owls.  Freshman Joan Hamel (Weare, N.H.) and sophomore Sia Karamortopoulos (Fremont, N.H.) also found the back of the net for KSC.  "I'm glad we were able to get the win and earn the championship without a tie," said Bradford.   "We play well at home, so I'm crossing my fingers we can go all the way."

Controlling play for the start, the Owls took a 1-0 lead at the 6:40 mark when senior Molly Brunelle (Walpole, N.H.) sent Hamel in alone.  Hamel took a couple of dribbles and beat USM senior goalie Allison Bradley (Auckland, New Zealand) for her fifth goal of the season.

Bradford put KSC up 2-0 at the 22:38 mark.  Hamel set up the goal with a well-placed through ball.

Minutes later, Bradford had a chance to extend the Owls' lead, but Bradley came out and got a piece of her breakaway bid.  With time winding down in the half, Bradley stopped Karamourtopoulos, who broke through the Husky defense.

The Owls scored two goals in a span of 30 seconds to put the game away. Bradford scored her second of the game and 13th of the season when she tapped in a loose ball into the net at 63:15.  Seconds later, Bradford sent a cross to Karamourtopoulos who scored her sixth goal of the season.

 Keene State lost its shutout bid with 15 minutes to play when USM freshman Catherine Wise (Cape Elizabeth, Me.) broke along and beat KSC senior goalie Samantha Hirsh (Holliston, Mass.).  It was the Huskies only shot on net in the game.

Hirsh wasn't credited with a save in the game while Bradley finished with seven saves for Southern Maine.   KSC held a wide margin in shots (21-1) and corner kicks (11-1) in the game.

Prior to the game, Keene State honored its five seniors:  Hirsh, Kendra Spencer (Petoskey, Mich.), Jaclyn Grant (Newington, Conn), Molly Brunelle (Walpole, N.H.) and student-assistant coach Shaina McMahon (Litchfield, N.H.).

"It's bittersweet," said Brunelle. "It's fun to be a senior and win the top seed in the tournament, but really sad that our season is coming to an end. It always goes by so fast."