KEENE, N.H. 4/24/10 – The Keene State men's lacrosse team broke open a close game with 10 unanswered goals and a shutdown defense in the second half to post a 20-7 Little East Conference victory over Western Conn. State University at Owl Athletic Complex on Saturday afternoon.

Winners of five straight, Keene State (8-5, 5-0 LEC) remains on top of the conference standings. Western Conn. (5-8, 3-2 LEC) dropped its second consecutive game.

An unassisted goal by freshman Ian Hart (Richmond, N.H.) at the 6:54 mark of the second quarter put the Owls up 9-6.  WCSU Sophomore Sean Macey (New Fairfield, Conn.) scored a minute later to make it 9-7.  That would be the last goal of the game for the Colonials. 

Sophomore Matt Schairer's (Wrentham, Mass.) goal in the closing minutes of the half gave the Owls a 10-7 lead at the break.

Keene State dominated play the rest of the way, netting five goals in the third and fourth quarters. Sophomore Griffin Meehan (Simsbury, Conn.) found the back of the net four times and freshman J.T. Galloway (Simsbury, Conn.) netted a pair in the Owls second half uprising.

The Owls' defense of seniors Kyle Barnett (Londonderry, N.H.) and Easton Kezer (Derry, N.H.) and sophomore Sean LeBlanc (Simsbury, Conn.) limited the Colonials to no goals and just six shots in the second half.  “We started winning face-offs and that slowed down their momentum,” said KSC Coach Mark Theriault.  “We put in a bunch of goals and our defense was well rested.”

Meehan finished the game with seven goals, giving him a team-high 48 for the season.  Freshman Taylor Jette (Simsbury, Conn.) had a strong game quarterbacking the Owls offense, scoring three goals and dishing out four assists.  Schairer and Galloway each had three goals.

Senior Adam Lanehart (Redding, Conn.) and Macey each had three goals for Western.

Jason Lesser (Brewster, N.Y.), KSC's freshman goalie, finished the game with 10 saves.  Sophomore Tyler Martone (Cheshire, Conn.) had a busy day in the Colonials' net, stopping 18 shots.

Both teams play key LEC games on Tuesday with Keene State hosting rival Plymouth State and Western traveling to Eastern Conn.