SPRINGFIELD, MASS. 9/3/11 – Going into the season Keene State College field hockey coach Amy Watson was concerned who would put the ball in the net for the Owls this season.

Although it was a one game sample, Watson had to feel good about her concerns after the Owls exploded for seven unanswered goals in the second half en route to a season-opening 9-0 rout over Western New England College in Springfield on  Saturday.  The nine goals was one short of the team record of 10 set against River and Simmons College in 1981. “It was a good opener for us in a sense that we were able to get everybody in there and get players comfortable on the field which is always a goal for the first game of the season.  We'll know a little more where we stand when we play Springfield College on Wednesday night. “

Senior Jackie Benson (Hampstead, N.H.) and junior Kalin Billert (Center Conway, N.H.) got the ball rolling for the Owls with first half goals.  “We worked very hard in practiced and it carried over to the game,” said Billert.  “It was a great way to start the season.”

Senior Nikki Smith (Southwick, Mass.) scored just 1:41 into the second half to make it 3-0.  From there the Owls scored in bunches, freshman Julie Forgione (Windham, N.H.) scored her first two college goals 1:38 minutes apart to make it a 5-0 game.  “I was nervous when I entered the game, but getting the two goals was very exciting,” she said. 

Billert got her second of the game and sophomore Leddy Gallagher (Acton, Mass.) scored goals seven minutes apart to up the score to 8-0.  Senior Alyce Ferenc (Rumney, N.H.) scored the final goal for KSC. 

Billert, Forgione, and Gallagher each had two goals for the Owls, who had a wide 29-3 margin in shots and an 8-1 advantage in corners.

Making her first college start, freshman Caitlin Davino-Draper (Hanover, Mass.) needed to make just one save to notch the shutout.  Goalie Kaitlyn Hall stopped 12 shots for the Golden Bears.

Keene State's game against Springfield (6 p.m.) will be the Owls home-opener.