KEENE, N.H. 11/14/10 – Senior forward Katie Bradford (Lebanon, N.H.)scored the go-ahead goal late in the second half goal, lifting the Keene State College women's soccer team to a 3-1 victory over Endicott College in the ECAC Northeast Championship played at Owl Athletic Complex on Sunday afternoon.  

After playing in two overtimes yesterday, the Owls battled their way to the ECAC title. "Yesterday's game took a lot out of us," said KSC head coach Denise Lyons. "I told them it's your last game and you can't hold anything back and they didn't. I'm so proud of them.

Senior midfielder Nora Mahoney (Belchertown, Mass.) was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player for her efforts over the three games. "It feels amazing to receive such an honor," said Mahoney. "To feel like I made that big of a contribution to the team is great."

Freshman midfielder Hayley Kenyon (Exeter, R.I.) crossed the ball to Bradford with 12:42 left in the second half, and Bradford beat Gull netminder Natalie Wyrsch (Dover, N.H.) for the game-winner. "Hayley sent a nice crossing ball to me," said Bradford. "I was at the right place at the right time to score."

Endicott had their best scoring chance with just over 18 minutes remaining in the first half, when Kayla Plante (Sanford, Maine) was the recipient of a rebound right in front of the net but her shot was denied by junior goalie Megan Dempsey (East Weymouth, Mass.) to keep the game nodded at one.

Right before the break, Wyrsch made a great play to keep the game scoreless, coming out of her net to deny Bradford the scoring chance with 30 seconds remaining.

KSC came out firing in the second half, as sophomore Erin Griffin (Londonderry, N.H.) got a nice touch pass from Bradford and fired a shot from just inside the box but Wyrsch made a diving save to keep the game tied.

With 35 minutes remaining the Gulls earned a free kick just outside the box as senior captain Victoria Hunt (Cumberland, R.I.)  crossed the ball to the head of junior forward Colleen Pepin (Fairhaven, Mass.) that went just wide.

In the games 62nd minute, freshman midfielder Kristen Huckins (Westmoreland, N.H.) took a pass from junior Shannon Hennessey (Essex Junction, Vermont) and her shot sailed just over the crossbar.

The Gulls pressed right back, as senior captain Kayla Corbett (Danvers, Mass.) was found open in the box, but Dempsey came up with the nice save to keep the game scoreless.

Mahoney looked to break the scoreless tie as she beat the Gull defense but was dragged down in the box to earn a penalty shot. Freshman forward Jessica Berthiaume (Worcester, Mass.) just got the ball by Wyrsch on the penalty stroke for the 1-0 lead.

Less than two minutes later Endicott evened the game at one apiece on a goal from Corbett. Pepin, who created the opportunity for Corbett with a nice pass from just inside the box was credited with the assist.

After Bradford's game-winner, junior back Melissa Dempsey (East Weymouth, Mass.) added KSC's third goal off a corner. The Gulls failed to clear the ball out of the zone, and Dempsey found the ball on her right foot and buried it in the back of the net for the 3-1 final.

The Owls outshot the Gulls 16-9, and held a slight advantage in cor ners at 5-4.

Dempsey made two saves for the Owls in the win, while Wyrsch made seven saves in the losing effort.

 Going out victorious, the Owls improve to 17-6-2 on the season. "Not a lot of players get to end their careers with a victory," said Bradford. "I am glad I was able to do that and defend our ECAC title."

Endicott closed out their season 17-7-2.