KEENE, N.H., 9/14/10 – Keene State College battled Tufts University to a 1-1 tie in non-conference women's soccer action at Owl Athletic Complex on Tuesday night.

Trailing 1-0, the Owls scored the tying goal at the 71:04 mark of the second half following a free kick.  Junior Bridget Hennessey (Essex Junction, Vt.) sent the ball into the box. In one motion, senior Katie Bradford (Lebanon, N.H.)  turned and fired the ball into the top left corner for the equalizer. "Bridget sent me a great ball and I was able to finish it off," said Bradford about her third goal of the season. "Last year we struggled against Tufts and this year we're proving that we can go out, work hard, and play with any team."

After missing several strong scoring opportunities, including a drive by freshman Maeve Stewart (Palo Altos, Ca.) that clanged off the cross-bar, the Jumbos got on the board at the 21:10 mark of the first half.  Senior back Sarah Nolet (Los Altos, Ca.) sent a lead pass to junior Alix Michael (Mercer Island, WA.) who beat KSC junior goalie Meghan Dempsey (East Weymouth, Mass.).

Dempsey was the difference as the Owls held off the Jumbos the rest of the way.  Three minutes into the second half, Dempsey made a diving save on a bid by junior forward Jamie Love Nichols (Cortez, Co.).  Picking up a loose ball after an errant clearing pass with 17 minutes to play in regulation, Stewart took a couple of dribbles and let fly a drive that Dempsey jumped up and deflected out of bounds.  "I came off my line to try and cut down the angle and luckily I was able to get my hand on it," said Dempsey, who finished with six saves.  "We played really well. Tufts is an awesome team."

Tufts had several chances to get the go-ahead goal in the second-overtime.  Freshman midfielder Erin Stone (Santa Barbara, Ca.) had a shot that went just over the cross bar at the 8:22 mark, and Dempsey stopped a breakaway by Nolet a minute later.  With 6:08 to play, Micheal hit the cross-bar with another shot.

"Being able to come-from-behind and get the tie against a team like Tufts, says a lot," said KSC Coach Denise Lyons. "We played really hard tonight and I'm really proud of them."

Tufts (1-1), coming off a 3-0 win over No. 11 Middlebury, had a slight advantage in shots (16-11) and corner kicks (5-3). 

Sophomore Phoebe Hanley (Mamaroneck, N.Y.), who finished with four saves, started the game in goal for Tufts.  After being taken out at half-time, she returned in the second half and played the rest of the way.  Freshman Kristin Wright (Austin, Tx.) made one save in her 19:51 of action.

Undefeated in its last three games, Keene State (3-1-2) is at Smith College on Thursday (4 p.m.). Tufts travels to Amherst on Friday (4:30 p.m.).