KEENE, N.H. 10/1/11 – After falling behind early, the Keene State College field hockey team scored five unanswered goals, en route to a 5-1 victory over the Western Conn. State Colonials on Saturday afternoon at Owl Athletic Complex.

With the victory KSC improves to 8-2 on the season and 5-0 in LEC play, while WestConn drops to 7-3 and 3-2 in league action.

The Colonials hit the scoreboard first, on a goal from junior defender Deanne Mastrocola (Goshen, Conn.) at the 12:38 mark. On a designed play off a penalty corner Mastrocola took a pass from Brittany Barra (Goshen, Conn.) on a give-and-go and beat the Owl goaltender for the 1-0 lead.

After that it was all KSC with junior midfielder Alexandra Billert (Center Conway, N.H.) evening the score at one apiece 26:46 into the first-half on a goal of another penalty corner. Sophomore Aimee Donaruma (Hampden, Mass.) laid the pass down from senior forward Elizabeth Coffin (Sugar Hill, N.H.) and Billert drilled it past the outstretched WCSU goalie.

Early in the second half, twin sister Kalin Billert (Center Conway, N.H.) gave KSC the lead on a rebounded shot from senior midfielder Alyce Ferenc (Rumney, N.H.) for the 2-1 advantage.

Coffin added to the Owl's lead, scoring two goals 34 seconds apart for the 4-1 lead. Coffin's first tally of the game happened at the 49:26 mark, as sophomore back Katlyn Simula (Bridgewater, N.H.) sent the ball into the circle from way outside the ring to find an open Coffin next to the next for an easy goal. Right after the faceoff and a WestConn turnover, Coffin took the ball away from the defenders and beat the Colonial keeper with 20 minutes left in the conference contest.

Alexandra Billert would add her second goal of the game, for her first multi-goal game of her career, on another play off a penalty corner for the 5-1 Little East Conference victory.

The Owls outshot WestConn 24-8 in the contest, while KSC also had the upperhand in penalty corners with 14 to the Colonial's five.

Keene State returns to action Tuesday, as they will travel to Salem State for a 6 p.m. start. WCSU also returns to action on Tuesday for a conference tilt as they will host Worcester State at 7 p.m.