KEENE, N.H. 9/26/09 - Sophomore Sia Karamourtopoulos (Fremont, N.H.) scored two goals, including the game-winner at the 3:49 mark of the overtime to lead Keene State to a 2-1 Little East Conference women's soccer victory over Eastern Conn. State University at Owl Athletic Complex on Saturday.

Winners of five of its last six games, Keene State (7-2, 2-0 LEC), had lost seven of its previous eight games against Eastern Conn., which came into the game ranked eighth in New England.  The Owls last best the Warriors (4-3-1, 1-1 LEC) in the semifinal round the 2006 LEC tournament. 

"I told the team they needed to step up and play 90 minutes, 45 minutes wasn't going to get it done against a team like Eastern," said Coach Denise Lyons. They never let up and worked hard for everything."

Making her first start of the season, Karamortopoulos came up big for the Owls with her third and fourth goals of the season. With Warrior senior goalie Kim Church (Farmington, Conn.) out of the net, Karamourtopoulos put the Owls ahead 1-0 on a shot from the corner of the box..

Warrior freshman Daniela Marchitto (Orange, Conn.) tied the score just over two minutes later when she took a loose ball inside the box and fired it just under the crossbar.

Megan Dempsey (East Weymouth, Mass.), the Owls sophomore goalie, made sure when the game would go overtime when she robbed sophomore Sam Konopka (Hebron, Conn.) with a diving save ticketed for the corner with 59 seconds to play in regulation.  "She got a great hit on it and I reacted quickly," said Dempsey, who finished the game with five saves.  "It was a tight game and I had to make the big save to help the team out."  

"That saved the game," said Lyons. "I thought it was going into the back of the net. But Megan made it look a lot easier than it was."

That set the stage for Karamourtopoulos, who headed a crossing ball from senior Molly Brunelle (Walpole, N.H.) into the net to give KSC the win.  "Molly gave me a great crossing ball.  It's a big win and feels good," said Karamourtopoulos.

"Sia is coming back slowly for an ACL injury. I told her it was a big game and we needed you in there" said Lyons. "Sia fights for every ball and makes things happen."

Eastern had the better of play in the early going. In addition to having four corner kicks in the first eight minutes of play, the Warriors' also had a wide angle direct kick from junior Stephanie Norell (Stratford, Conn.) which Dempsey was able to get a hand on and steer away from the net.

The two teams traded scoring chances off of headers early in the second half; sophomore Jo-Ann-Merheb (Bethel, Conn.) had the shot by the Warriors and junior Katie Bradford (Lebanon, N.H.) the opportunity by KSC.

The Owls had several opportunities to break the stalemate later in the half, sophomore Britini Watkinson's (Rochester, N.H.).drive just went over the net and a bid by sophomore Tara Nathan (Bethel, Conn.) sailed just wide of the far cross bar.

Church made four saves for the Warriors, who had a wide 9-1 advantage in corner kicks.  KSC outshot ECSU 19-7.

Both teams play non-conference games on Wednesday. The Owls travel to Worcester State and the Warriors return home to face Conn. College.