DANBURY, CONN.  4/11/09 - Sophomore attack Jill Kirk (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y.) scored four goals to lead the Keene State women's lacrosse team to a 15-10 Little East Conference victory over Western Conn. State University in Danbury on Saturday.

The Owls (5-7, 2-1 LEC) scored the first four goals of the game and led   11-5 at the half. The two teams traded goals to start the second half.  KSC took a 14-7 lead on a goal by Caitlyn Corace (Mahopac, N.Y.) at the 17:24 mark of the second half.  WCSU's Ashley Caruso (Northport, N.Y.) scored three consecutive goals to make it a 14-10 game with less than two minutes to play.  KSC withstood the Colonial's comeback bid and got a goal in the final minute by Brittany Bastarache (Somers, Conn.).

Jenny Lillis (West Islip, N.Y.) had three goals, Emily Persano (Somers, Conn.) registered two goals, and Lauren Sawyer (Westbrook, Me.) tallied a goal and five assists for the Owls.

Caruso and Kara Kruczkiewicz (Brookfield, Conn.) finished the game with   for goals each for Western (6-5, 1-2 LEC).

KSC goalie Jen Gearing (Westfield, Mass.) tied her career high with 17 saves.  Jodi Rocco (Brewster, N.Y.) stopped 14 shots for the Colonials.

Keene State travel to Colby-Sawyer on Monday.