KEENE, N.H. 10/20/12 - The Keene State College women's soccer team won a 3-2 overtime thriller over UMass-Dartmouth in a Little East Conference game played at Owl Athletic Complex on Saturday.

With the win, Keene State (11-7, 4-2 LEC) moves into a tie with UMass-Dartmouth (10-3-2, 4-2 LEC) for third in the LEC standings.

Trailing 2-1 in the closing minutes of regulation play, the Owls tied the game on a goal by junior Kara Pavlidis (Lee, N.H.). 

Controlling a lead pass from freshman Jennifer Wilson (Plymouth, Mass.), Pavlidis' shot bounced high over UMD junior goalie Krista Chauvin (Seekonk, Mass.) and into the net to tie the game with 1:25 to play.  "Jenn sent a great ball over the top of their defense.  I read it perfectly and was just able to get past in by their goalie," said Pavlidis, about her fourth goal of the season.  "We stayed focused and played our game.  It was a great win."

Junior Amber Pelletier (Coventry, Conn.) got the game winner for KSC at the 5:23 mark of overtime.   At the right place at the right time, Pelletier jumped on a rebound following a cross from junior Jessica Berthiaume (Worcester, Mass.) and put the ball into the far corner.  "It was a huge adrenaline rush," said Pelletier.  "It feels awesome to come back and win a game like this.  There's no better feeling. "

KSC Coach Denise Lyons said her team responded to her halftime speech. "I told them they had to pick up the intensity and show how much they wanted to win," she said.  "They could have easily given up, but they kept fighting and persevered."  I'm very proud of them."

Keene State took a 1-0 lead on Hayley Kenyon's (Exeter, R.I.) team leading 12th goal of the season.  Chauvin deflected Kenyon's initial shot, but the junior forward stayed with the play and knocked the rebound into the net at the 7:17 mark.

Junior Tori Pierce (Tiverton, R.I.) scored a pair of goals to give the Corsairs a 2-1 halftime lead.  Her first goal was a chip to the top corner and her second goal was a drive into the far corner of the net.

Early in the second half, KSC junior goalie Torrie Crenson (North Salem, N.Y.) kept it a one goal game, coming out and kicking away a bid by sophomore Shelby Friedland (New Bedford, Mass.).

Keene State took it to the Corsairs from there, but couldn't get the ball past Chauvin, who came up with several spectacular saves.  Chauvin went up and got a hand on a long drive from KSC senior Brittany Croteau (Swanzey, N.H.) and later stopped Kenyon who had broken in alone.

The Owls kept up their assault and were rewarded with Pavlidis' tying goal in the final minutes of the game. 

UMass-Dartmouth, which played the final 5:34 of regulation and the extra session one player down due to a red card, had a couple of chances to win the game early in overtime.  Pierce had a drive that went just wide of the net.   A few minute later, KSC junior sweeper Kelsie Bailey (Barre, Vt.) was able to catch up with UMD senior Jillian Van Ness (Agawam, Mass.) and take her down.

The key defensive play by Bailey enabled KSC to stay in the game.  "I have to do things sometimes to sacrifice for the team," said Bailey.  "They worked hard up front, so we had to do our job in the back." 

 The Corsairs were awarded a direct kick just outside the box, but senior Vanessa Demelo's (Fall River, Mass.) drive deflected off the Owls' wall.

Less than a minute later, Pelletier got the game winner.

Keene State outshot the Corsairs 20-9 and had 7-0 advantage in corner kicks.

Crenson finished the game with two saves for the Owls.  Chauvin stopped six shots for UMass-Dartmouth.

Both teams return to action on Wednesday.  Keene State is at Wheaton College (3:30 p.m.)  and the Corsairs travel to Worcester State (7 p.m.)