KEENE, N.H. 10/27/12 – Junior Ariana D'Aurio (Cheshire, Conn.) and senior Tracy Sales (Cumberland, R.I.) netted second half goals to lead Western Conn. State to a 2-0 shutout victory over Keene State College in a Little East Conference women's soccer game played on Senior Day at Owl Athletic Complex on Saturday.

            With the loss, Keene State (11-8-1, 4-3 LEC) falls into to a tie with UMass-Dartmouth for fourth in the LEC standings.  UMD lost to Eastern Conn. 3-2 in overtime on Saturday.  Keene State wins the tie-breaker over the Corsairs based on it 3-2 overtime win over UMD last Saturday.  The Owls will host fifth seed UMass-Dartmouth in a LEC quarterfinal game on Tuesday (6 p.m.).

            Ranked 11th in this week's New England Regional poll, Western Conn. (14-3-2, 5-2 LEC) will be the third seed in the LEC tournament and host sixth seed Southern Maine in a first-round game on Tuesday.

            After a scoreless first half, Western Conn. withstood a flurry of scoring opportunities by Keene State.  With Colonial senior goalie Caitlin Avery (East Hampton, Conn.) out of position, senior back Samantha Trayer (Oakville, Conn.) was able to knock away a shot by Owl senior Jane Walsh (Portsmouth, R.I.).

            A minute later, Avery kept KSC off the board with consecutive saves off of Walsh and sophomore Alex Haley (Laconia, N.H.)

            The Colonials scored their first goal at the 22:39 mark of the second half. Freshman Jessica Choronzy (Clinton, Conn.) beat a KSC defender and sent a cross over to D'Aurio, who volleyed the ball into the net to give the Colonials a 1-0 lead.

            Sales made it a 2-0 game at the 11:11 mark when she headed home a cross from sophomore Sarah Menta (Newington, Conn.).

            Keene State had a slim edge in shots (12-11) and corners (3-1).

            Sophomore Torrie Crenson (North Salem, N.Y.) finished the game with four saves.  Senior Jamie Trayer (Oakville, Conn.) played the first half in goal for Western and made two saves.  Avery played the second half and stopped four shots.

            Prior to the game Keene State honored its four seniors; Jane Walsh (Portsmouth, R.I.), Joan Hamel (Weare, N.H.), Elise Bolster (Narragansett, R.I.) and Brittany Croteau (Swanzey, N.H.).