KEENE, N.H., 9/18/10 – Freshman Jessica Berthiaume's (Worcester, Mass.) goal at the 14:47 mark of the first half was the difference as the Keene State College women's soccer team opened up Little East Conference play with a 1-0 shutout win over rival Plymouth State University at Owl Athletic Complex on Saturday afternoon.

Undefeated in its last five games, Keene State improves to 5-1-2 (1-0 LEC).  Plymouth State (3-3, 0-1 LEC) saw its three game winning streak come to an end.

Following a flurry of shots, the Owls finally found the back of the net when Berthiaume got a foot on a crossing ball from senior Katie Bradford.  "Katie gave me a nice cross and I barely got my heel on it, "said Berthiaume, about her team-leading seventh goal of the season. "We should've scored a few more times, but we'll take the win."

Keene State junior goalie Megan Dempsey (East Weymouth, Mass.) made one save to notch her fourth shutout of the season and 13th of her career.  Dempsey made her toughest stop of the game early in the second half when she aggressively came out of the net and made a sliding save on a shot by freshman Cassie Graham (Foster, R.I.).

The Owls defense allowed just two shots on goal.  "I thought our defense played pretty well," said junior Bridget Hennessey (Essex Junction, Vt.).  "We did a good job marking their players and didn't give them many opportunities to score."

PSU junior goalie Angelina LaBroad (Hampton, N.H.) kept it a one goal game the rest of the way.  After Berthiume hit the post, LaBroad, who finished with 14 saves, stopped consecutive close-range shots by Bradford and later got a hand on a drive by sophomore Joan Hamel (Weare, N.H.) late in the game that was ticketed for the far corner. 

KSC outshot PSU 30-2 and had a 6-0 margin in corner kicks.

Keene State has won its last 14 games against Plymouth State, and lead the LEC series 16-1-1.

The Owls host Clark University on Wednesday (6 p.m.). The Panthers travel to Worcester State for a non-conference contest on Tuesday (7 p.m.).