KEENE, N.H. 9/8/10 – Keene State College erupted for four goals in a six-minute span of the second half en route to a 5-2 non-conference women's soccer victory over Westfield State University at Owl Athletic Complex on Wednesday.

Keene State improves to 2-1-1.  Westfield State (0-3) is still looking for its first win of the season.

Freshman Hayley Kenyon's (Exeter, R.I.) first college goal, scored on a rebound, gave Keene State a 1-0 lead at the 7:41 mark of the first half. Senior Katie Bradford (Lebanon, N.H.) had a chance to add to KSC's lead less than a minute later, but WSC freshman goalie Jess Habif (Holliston, Mass.) came out and stopped her bid.     

Westfield had a chance to tie the game three minutes into the second half, but KSC junior goalie Megan Dempsey (East Weymouth, Mass.) made a diving save on senior Kate McClellan's (Wilbraham, Mass.) shot.

Westfield got the equalizer at the 26:24 mark of the second half with its first goal of the season.  MacLellan sent the ball into the box and sophomore Leann Rivard (Chicopee, Mass.) headed it into the net. It was MacLellan's 32nd assist of her career, setting a WSC school record.

The KSC Owls began their four-goal flurry at the 67:09 mark of the second half.   Freshman Jessica Berthiaume (Worcester, Mass.) took a crossing ball from Bradford and went around Habif for her second goal of the season.  Keene State followed with two quick goals to go up 4-1.  Junior back Melissa Dempsey (East Weymouth, Mass.) scored her first career goal on a corner kick and two minutes later senior Nora Mahoney (Belchertown, Mass.) hit a streaking Bradford for her first goal of the season.  Kenyon completed the uprising with her second goal of the game to put the Owls up 5-1. 

"I feel we're starting to gel more as a team," said Kenyon. "When we started playing our game, we were able to string some goals together."

"Once we got going and found the back of the net, I thought we played well," said KSC Coach Denise Lyons.  "We had different scorers. It's nice to know we don't have to rely on one player. We still have some things to work on, but overall I thought it was a good team performance."

Westfield sophomore Brittanie McGregor (Ludlow, Mass.) concluded the scoring with an unassisted goal with 3:54 to play. 

KSC outshot WSC 20-10 and had a 3-0 advantage in corner kicks. 

Dempsey finished the game with four saves for Keene State. Habif stopped seven shots for Westfield.

After winning 11 straight games against Westfield, Keene State had lost its last two meetings (in 2008 and 2009).

Both teams return to action on Saturday, Keene State hits the road against Framingham State (4 p.m.) and Westfield plays RPI at the Union College Classic.