KEENE, N.H. 3/31/11 – Junior midfielder Sammi Benson (Hampstead, N.H.) scored the go-ahead goal with 2:29 to play and senior defender Annie Brown (Westwood, Mass.) came up with a key turnover in the final minute of play enabling the Keene State women's lacrosse team to hang on for a 12-11 non-conference win over Franklin Pierce University at Owl Athletic Complex on Thursday afternoon.

The victory snapped a four game losing skid by the Owls (2-4).  Franklin Pierce (5-2) saw its two game winning streak come to an end.  Both KSC victories this season have come against Division II opponents.  The Owls open their season with a 15-5 win over St. Michael's College.

With the score knotted at 11-all, Benson cut down the middle and beat FPC junior goalie Jillian Bolduc (Atkinson, N.H.) for the game-winning goal.  "Coach (Katie Arsenault) kept on saying drive to the net, so I followed her instructions and it worked out great," said Benson, who finished the game with two goals and an assist.  "It feels great. We've been playing really hard and haven't been able to score a lot of goals, so it was nice to finally win a game."

After Keene State won the draw control, the Ravens were able to get the ball back and set up for the equalizer.  Anticipating a pass in the middle, Brown stepped in front of FPC senior Ashley Moirano (Vero Beach, Fla.) and took the ball away.  "We had to get the ball out of our end.  I was able to get the check and we were able to get the ball out and hold onto it," said Brown.  "The losing streak needed to end."

Keene State scored the final two goals of the first half to take an 8-5 lead into the locker room.

The Ravens strung together three straight goals early in the second half, tying the game (9-9) on a transition goal by junior Christine McKay (Norwood, Mass.) following an Owl infraction.

Keene State went ahead on a 10-9, but the Ravens tied the score on a free position goal by sophomore Lindsey Leach (Hamden, Conn.) and took their first lead of the game (11-10) when junior Kim Jaksina (Townsend, Mass.) picked up a loose ball and fired it past KSC freshman goalie Erin Taylor (Brewster, N.Y.) with 7:40 to play.

Keene Stated tied the game at 11-all when senior Jill Kirk (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y.) found sophomore Lauren Brown (Agawam, Mass.) at the right side of the net for the equalizer. 

Keene State gained control of the ball on the ensuing draw control.    Kirk hit the post with a shot and Brown was wide on a free position shot, before Benson took matters into her own hand.

Kirk led the Owls with three goals and an assist while junior Caitlyn Corace (Mahopac, N.Y), Brown and Benson each had two goals.  Senior Lauren Sawyer also chipped in with three assists.

Senior Lauren Stille (North Quincy, Mass.) tallied three goals for the Ravens.  Leach and Jaksina each had two goals.

Taylor, who stopped several free position shots by FPC, finished the game with 13 saves.  Bolduc turned aside 12 shots for the Ravens.

Keene State edged FPV in several categories including ground balls (35-31) and draw controls (17-8).

Keene State has dominated the series against FPC, winning 14 out of 15 games. The Raven's lone win came in 2009.

Keene State plays its first Little East game of the season on Saturday at Western Conn. (4 p.m.).  Franklin Pierce hosts New Haven on Monday (4 p.m.).