SPRINGFIELD, Mass. 9/10/09 - Led by two goal efforts from Carly Benning (Brewster, Mass.) and Elizabeth Coffin (Sugar Hill, N.H.), the Keene State College field hockey team defeated the Golden Bears of Western New England College 7-0 Thursday night at Golden Bear Stadium.

The shutout marks the first time in the program's history that the Owls have started the season with four straight shutouts and puts them one behind the record for consecutive shutouts in a season.

"It feels real good to play defense like this," said head coach Amy Watson. "To have this many shutouts at the beginning of the season is unheard of."

Keene State (4-0) wasted little time getting on the board when Benning netted her seventh goal of the season off a pass from Aislynn Sherry (Rehobeth, Mass.) to put the Owls up 1-0 less than five minutes into the game.

Less than two minutes later Chelsea Blackmer (Boylston, Mass.) added an unassisted score to extend the lead to 2-0.

Thirty seconds later, Blackmer found Benning for her second goal of the game and a 3-0 Keene State lead just over seven minutes into the contest.

In the second half, the Owls continued to add to the lead as Coffin would bury her first lamplighter of the game with the assist going to Benning, just over three minutes into the half.

Coffin would not be done, as she would score her second of the contest less than five minutes later for the 5-0 KSC advantage.

At the 46:24 mark, Jacki Benson (Hampstead, N.H.) would get in on the scoring with her third goal of the season.

Keene State concluded the night with Sherry's second goal of the season off a pass from senior defender Erin Dallas (Marlow, N.H.) and the 7-0 road victory.

The Owls outshot the Golden Bears 31-4 in the  victory.

Senior netminder Vikki Stoessel (Derry, N.H.) made two saves in over fifty minutes of action to improve her record to 4-0 on the season, while WNEC goaltender Katy Hall (Pawtucket, R.I.) allowed seven goals and set aside 18 shots in the losing effort.

As the Owls look ahead at the schedule, they will continue to be challenged on the field. "We have a big Little East Conference game at Eastern Conn. this Saturday and Williams on Tuesday at home," said Watson. "We have to continue to play great team defense but so far, so good."

 On the season, the Owls have outscored their opponents 18-0.