KEENE, N.H. 9/19/11 – Keene State women's soccer coach Denise Lyons picked the perfect time to put Jessica Berthiaume back into the game.  Just 34 seconds after inserting her back into the line-up, the sophomore forward from Worcester, Mass. scored the only goal of the game with just over 11 minutes to play to give the Owls a 1-0 shutout win over Castleton State at Owl Athletic Complex on Monday night. 

"Fresh legs helped," said Berthiaume about her game-winner and second goal of the season.  "I just ran toward the goal.  Alex (Haley) shot it. The ball deflected off the goalie and I was at the right place at the right time."

Up until that point it had been a frustrating night for the Owls, who peppered the Spartan goal with 23 shots including 17 on goal, without any results.  "It was frustrating at times, but you have to keep shooting," Berthiaume said.

The non-conference win moves the Owls (4-3) over .500 and also marked the first time this season that the team had strung together two consecutive wins.  Castleton State (5-3) saw its two game winning streak come to an end.

The Spartans, who finished the game with five shots, almost took an early lead in the game.  Still lying on the ground, KSC senior goalie Megan Dempsey (East Weymouth, Mass.) was able to get her hand up and deflect a shot by Courtney Chadburn (North Clarendon, Vt.).  "I came out and cut down the angle and tried to make myself as big as possible. Luckily I was able to get my arm up and tip it," said Dempsey, who made two saves for her fourth shutout of the season and 21st of her career.  "In a game like this you have to come up big and make the save."

The Owls had several opportunities to score in the fist half but couldn't cash in.  With 13 minutes to go, KSC had a barrage of shots.  Berthiaume had a blast that clanged off the crossbar.  Looking for her first goal of her college career, freshman Kelly Burrell (Cumberland, Me.) was sitting at the doorstep, but Spartan freshman goalie Katja Langmaid (Enosburg Falls, Vt.) made the save.  Later in the half, Berthiaume had another bid knocked away on the goal line by senior back Kelly Tetreault (Tolland, Conn.) after Langmaid was caught out of position. 

KSC had a good scoring opportunity on a corner play at the 22:59 mark of the second half.  Sophomore Brittany Boscarino's (Ellington, Conn.)  sent the ball into the box.  Senior Sia Karamourtopolous tipped the ball just wide of the near post. 

The Spartans almost got the go-ahead goal at the 13:09 mark.  The Owls dodged a bullet when sophomore Kelsey Lenney (Coxsackie, N.Y.) got control on a rebound in the box.  Facing an open night with Dempsey out of her position, Lenney's shot went wide of the post.

Langmaid finished the game with 16 saves for Castleton State. 

Keene State had all four corner kicks in the game.

Keene State is at Clark University on Wednesday (4:30 p.m.).