KEENE, N.H. 10/2/12 – Senior Alex Billert (Center Conway, N.H.) scored three goals on corner opportunities in the first half to lead Keene State College to a 7-0 shutout victory over Salem State University in Little East Conference field hockey action at Owl Athletic Complex on Tuesday night. 

            After the game Billert said practice makes perfect.  "Yesterday in practice our main focus was corners, so our hard work paid off," said Billert.  "Everybody did their job."

           Winners of four straight, the Owls improve to 7-4 overall and 5-1 in LEC play.  Salem State (7-3, 3-3 LEC) has dropped its last two games.

            The Owls connected on their first four corners of the game.  Alex Billert put the Owls on the board just 1:03 into the game on a bullet for the top of the circle.  After Viking freshman defender Taylor Nan (Auburn, Mass.) made a defensive save on Alex's second corner bid, twin sister Kailin Billert (Center Conway, N.H.) scored on the rebound for her team leading 13th goal of the season. 

            Alex Billert scored on two more corner plays to stake the Owls to a 4-0 half time lead.  She now has four goals this season.

            Salem State prevented the Owls from adding to their lead early in the second half.  Junior goalie Michaela Boyer (South Hadley, Mass.) stopped a drive by Alex Billert and sophomore Taylor Donovan (Dedham, Mass.) denied freshman Bella Robinson rebound attempt with a defensive save.

            Freshman Lyndsie Rabenius (North Hampton, N.H.) and junior Leddy Gallagher (Acton, Mass.) scored their first goals of the season in a span of minute later in the half, extending the Owls' lead to 6-0.

            Junior Aimee Donaruma (Hampden, Mass.) rounded out the scoring with her fourth goal of the season.

            Keene State outshot the Vikings 25-6 and had a 13-6 margin in corner plays.

            Sophomore Caitlin Davino-Draper (Hanover, Mass.) and freshman Meaghan Dwyer (Rutland, Mass.) shared the shutout in goals for the Owls.  Davino-Draper played the first 56:48 and made five saves.  Dwyer wasn't credited with a save in the final 13:12 of play.

            Boyer finished the game with eight saves for Salem State.

            Keene State hosts New England College on Thursday (6 p.m.).