KEENE, N.H. 10/7/09 - Carly Benning (Brewster, Mass.), Alexandra Billert (Center Conway, N.H.), and Jacki Benson (Hampstead, N.H.) each scored a goal to lead Keene State College to a 3-0 shutout victory over rival Plymouth State University in Little East Conference field hockey action at Owl Athletic Complex on Tuesday night.

Recording its ninth shutout of the season, Keene State improves to 9-3 (4-2 LEC). Plymouth State falls to 7-4 overall and 3-3 in the LEC.

Benning scored her LEC-leading 14th goal of the season at the 10:42 mark of the first half to stake the Owls to a 1-0 lead.  Taking a feed from sophomore Elizabeth Coffin (Sugar Hill, N.H.), Benning fired a baseline bullet that beat PSU sophomore goalie Elyse Sedgely (Hopkinton, N.H.).  The goal gave Benning, a senior, 96 career points, four shy of the coveted 100-point milestone.

The Owls had a chance to extend their lead later in the half, but sophomore Aislynn Sherry (Rehoboth, Mass.) hit the post and Sedgeley stopped a bid by sophomore Alyce Ferenc (Rumney, N.H.).

Billert and Benson scored second half goals for the Owls.  Billert's goal, a one-timer from the right side, was the first of her career for the freshman. Benson concluded the scoring at the 52:41 mark with a backhand shot for her fifth goal of the season.

The Owls held the Panthers to just five shots.  Senior Morgan Lemmon (Gilford, N.H.) attempted to get PSU on the board in the closing minutes of play, but her shot was kicked out by KSC senior goalie Vikki Stoessel (Derry, N.H.), who finished the game with four saves for her seventh shutout of the season.

KSC Coach Amy Watson said the key to the game was the Owls stifling defense.  "Our defense has been playing well," she said.  "We're missing Kerry Howe , so I wasn't sure how we'd do without her."

"We can't afford another conference loss," Watson said.  "You want to be playing better at the end of the season than the beginning."  

Sedgeley and freshman Hannah Sawyer each played a half in goal for PSU.  Sedgeley made three saves while Sawyer stopped one Owl shot.

Keene State has won the last five meetings between the two teams, including the 2008 LEC championship game (4-0).

Keene State hits the road for three straight games, starting with a game at Southern Maine on Saturday.  Plymouth State will host Westfield State on Saturday.