MIDDLEBURY, VT. - In the middle of finals week, the Keene State College women's lacrosse team had its first NCAA tournament test. 

While the test-score following Wednesday's first-round game read: Middlebury College 18 Keene State 2, the Owls, who were making their inaugural NCAA appearance, said it was a great learning experience.

"It's a privilege to be playing such great competition," said Lauren Sawyer. "We did a lot better than we thought, especially in the second half,"

"I can't begin to tell you the things I learned from watching this game," said KSC Coach Katie Arsenault.  "This experience will only make us a better team next season."

Keene State ends its season at 12-8. Middlebury (10-5) advances to the NCAA Regionals and will go up against Colby College on Saturday.  

The tournament-tested Panthers, who have won five NCAA Championships since '97, including four perfect seasons ('99, '01, '02, and '04), used their experience and superior skills to score the first 11 goals of the game. 

Sally Ryan and Chase Delano sparked the Panther offense early, scoring the first nine goals of the game to give the Panthers a 9-0 lead at the 10:44 mark.  Ryan ran off three straight tallies, including a free position goal to make it 6-0.  Delano netted a pair before Ryan netted her fifth of the half with 10:44 remaining to give the Panthers a 9-0 lead.

"They're amazing and very fast," said KSC goalie Jen Gearing about the Panther's offense.  "They're shots are impossible to save. It was like a shooting gallery for me."   

Lindsay McBride and Alice Demmerle increased the lead to 11-0 before Emily Persano scored from the outside after a feed from Jamie Albert to put the Owls on the board with 6:10 left in the half.

"We really wanted to just put one down in the scorebook. We deserved it. We worked so hard this season" said Persano.  "I wasn't going to leave this field without our team having a goal."

Trailing 12-1 at the half, Arsenault asked her team to work hard and show some heart.  The Owls responded by cutting Middlebury's goal total in half.  "I think everyone stepped it up and realized that we didn't have anything to lose," said Molly Corcoran.

KSC held Middlebury at bay for a 15 minute period early in the half with Gearing stopping a flurry of Panther shots, including the initial breakaway attempt by Demmerle. "When I start making saves, I can keep making them," said Gearing, who finished the game with 10 saves. "I just tried to stay on my toes."

Freshman Caitlyn Corace got the Owls second goal at the 6:56 mark of the second half.  "Missy (Luzzi) gave me an awesome pass," said Corace.  "I'm a freshman, so it was a great experience to come here and play Middlebury and just be in this atmosphere."

Following the game, the Owls reflected on their historic season.

"No one from Keene State can ever say they did this besides this group of players," said Sawyer. "It feels greats to just be here. I'm glad we had a chance to do it." 

"Every senior comes in and win a LEC championship and go to the NCAAs and I finally say I did it," said Gearing, who along with Corcoran played their final game for the Owls.