KEENE, N.H. 3/28/09 - The Keene State men's lacrosse team began Little East Conference play with a 20-5 victory over UMass-Dartmouth at Owl Athletic Complex on Saturday afternoon.

The victory snapped a two-game losing streak for the Owls (3-2, 1-0 LEC).  The Corsairs fall to 2-5 (0-1 LEC).

The attack trio of seniors Rodney Arganese (Trumbull, Conn.) and Tony Santa Fe (Derry, N.H.), and freshman Griffin Meehan (Simsbury, Conn.) combined to score 12 of KSC's 20 goals.  Arganese and Griffin had five goals each while Santa Fe chipped in with two goals and four assists. Meehan also picked up four assists.

"I like playing with the guys, we have a great chemistry," said Arganese, whose five goals were a career high. 

"We were looking for the third person to team up with Santa Fe and Meehan, and Rodney did that today and then some," said KSC Coach Mark Theriault.  "We're really excited to see Rodney have a break-out game."

Keene State led 5-1 after the first quarter and 10-2 at the half.  The Owls finished the third quarter with five straight goals to go up 18-4.

"This is our first LEC game and we definitely wanted to make a statement and I think we did," said Arganese.

The Owls were successful in four of five man-up opportunities while UMD failed to score in all seven of their chances.  KSC also had a decided edge in ground balls (47-12) and won 20 of 27 face-offs.

Jamie LeSage (Exeter, N.H.) who had two goals along with Ryan Shairs (Beverly, Mass.), Mike Borruso (Manorville, N.Y.), Dax Greene (Westborough, Mass.) Cam Sousa (Hollis, N.H.) and Tom Montano (Old Lyme, Conn.) also found the back of the net for KSC. 

Junior Andrew Foster (Newbury, Mass.) and sophomore Josh Arsenault (Revere, Mass.) netted two goals each for the Corsairs.

Keene State used all of its three goalies in the game. Alec Corliss (Waltham, Mass.) started and stopped four shots, David Brochu (Derry, N.H.) was credited with one save, and Kevin LeSage (Exeter, N.H.), making his first appearance of the season, turned aside seven shots.

UMD's Cameron Crown (Walpole, Mass.) made eight saves, before giving way to Kevin Pelsinski (Merrimack, N.H.), who didn't record a save.

KSC has won the last seven games between the two teams.

Keene State returns to action next Saturday at Salem, State.  UMass-Dartmouth travels to Mt. Ida College on Wednesday.