KEENE, N.H.  3/2/11 – Junior attack Matt Schairer (Wrentham, Mass.) scored three goals and handed out two assists and sophomore goalie Jason Lesser (Brewster, N.Y.) made 11 saves to lead the Keene State College men's lacrosse team to a season-opening 14-3 non-conference win over Bates College at Owl Athletic Complex on Wednesday. 

The three goals are the fewest the Owls had given up in a game since defeating Southern Maine 15-2 back on April 26, 2008.

The Owls, looking to avenged last year's season-opener 11-10 overtime loss to the Bobcats, jumped out to a 6-0 lead after the first quarter and never looked back in a game that began under sunny skies and concluded with a snow shower. 

"I thought it was going to be a battle like the last three times we played them, but we just jumped right out of the gates and kept going," said KSC Coach Mark Theriault.  "We had a nice balance on offense between midfield and attack goals."

Moved up to the top midfield line this season, sophomore Ian Hart (Richmond, N.H.) gave KSC a 1-0 lead with a shot from the top of the circle at the 11:42 mark.  Junior attacks Griffin Meehan (Simsbury, Conn.) and Taylor Jette (Simsbury, Conn.) scored goals one-minute apart to make it 3-0.  Junior midfielder Tom Montano (Old Lyme, Conn.) scored the first of his two goals on a nice feed from Griffin from behind the net to push the Owls lead to 4-0.  Junior Matt Crimmins (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) and Schairer scored goals to complete the first quarter uprising.

The Keene State offense wasn't done, tacking on four unanswered goals in the second quarter to go up 10-0 at halftime.  Junior Jonathan Roderick (Plaistow, N.H.), found the back of the net twice while freshman Kyle Bennett (Concord, N.H.) and Schairer had single goals in the quarter.  "We were clicking nicely.  We had a bunch of players get involved," said Schairer.  "It was great work by the entire offense."

Keene State's defense rose up to the occasion in the third quarter, keeping the Bobcats off the board during a two-man-up situation.  Lesser made one of his many great saves during the penalty, stopping a close-range shot by Bates sophomore Dan Hines (Manchester, Mass.). "I felt great today and my defense played well in front of me.  It was a fantastic start," said Lesser.  "Coach did a great job of getting us ready for today and it showed."

Lesser lost his shutout bid with 3:04 to go in the third quarter when senior Rory Cosgrove scored for the Bobcats. 

Schairer, Meehan, Hart and Montano netted fourth quarter goals for Keene State.

Junior Adam Scharff (Glyndon, Md.) started in goal for Bates and made 10 saves.  Freshman Mac Lee (Devon, Pa.) played the final 7:38 and didn't register a save.

Keene State outshot Bates 46-30, had a 26-22 advantage in grounds balls and won 12 of 19 face-offs.  The Owls special teams also connected for four man-up goals.

Keene State is at New England College on Saturday.