MANSFIELD, CONN. 9/12/09 - The Keene State field hockey team tied a school record with its fifth consecutive shutout, blanking Eastern Connecticut State 5-0 in the Little East opener for both teams on Saturday.

            The Owls (5-0, 1-0 LEC) tied the mark set in 1981 and 2007.  "It's nice to come out of the gate with five consecutive shutouts, but our defense has yet to be challenged," said KSC Coach Amy Watson.  "But that will change on Tuesday when we face Williams. Hopefully, we can still be talking about the shutout record after that game."

            Senior Vikki Stoessel (Derry, N.H.) turned aside five shots to notch her third shutout of the season.  Sophomore Danielle Reichardt (Ocean Twp., N.J.) finished the game with 10 saves for the Warriors (0-3, 0-1 LEC).

            Senior Carly Benning (Brewster, Mass.) led the KSC offense with two goals, her team-leading ninth and 10th of the season. 

            The Owls led 2-0 at the half. Early in the second half, senior Erin Dallas (Marlow, N.H.) got an assist on Keene State's third goal of the game on a corner play.  It was her 36th helper of her career, one shy of the school mark (37) held by Kelly Smith (1997-2000).

            Sophomore Elizabeth Coffin (Sugar Hill, N.H.) scored twice for the Owls. She now has four goals this season.   Junior Chelsea Blackmer (Boylston, Mass.) had a goal and an assist and sophomore Aislynn Sherry (Rehoboth, Mass.) chipped in with a pair of assists.

            Keene State topped the Warriors in both shots (19-8) and penalty corners (13-6).