KEENE, N.H. 4/24/12 – Junior midfielder Lauren Brown (Agawam, Mass.) scored a career-high six goals, including the game-winner with 8:06 left, as the Keene State College women's lacrosse team edged Castleton State College 13-12 in non-conference action on Tuesday night at Owl Athletic Complex.

"It wasn't our best performance tonight but it was a win," said KSC head coach Katie Arsenault. "We were working on some things and our offense improved as the game went on."

The Owls defense forced 20 turnovers, including five from sophomore midfielder Ashley Borjeson (Londonderry, N.H.), and got another solid game in net from sophomore goalie Erin Taylor (Brewster, N.Y.) "Erin was solid again for us and we did a better job of double-teaming today on defense and forced some errors," said Arsenault.

Late in the first half the Owls (12-3) seemed to have the game in hand, taking a 7-3 advantage on a goal from senior midfielder Caitlyn Corace (Mahopac, N.Y.), as she found her way through traffic at the 9:39 mark.

After that Castleton State (8-6) took control of the half, rattled off three straight goals, to cut the KSC lead to 7-6 on a goal from sophomore midfielder Sarah Clark (Guilford, Vermont) with only 1:23 remaining in the half. Two of the three goals during the stretch were assisted by Spartan junior midfielder Samantha Bonasera (Jefferson Township, N.J.).

In the second half, Taylor started the half with two point-blank saves in shots from freshman attacker Kate Auer (South Glens Falls, N.Y.) and sophomore attacker Amanda Flodstrom (Stratham, N.H.). Clark would pick up the rebound after the saves, and scored for the Spartans, to tie the game at 7-7 with 26:57 remaining in the game.

CSC sophomore midfielder Blake Wardwell (Bridgewater, Vermont) evened the game for the Spartans again at 9-9 with 18:20 left, but Taylor stopped CSC from adding another, as Auer tried to give the Spartans their first lead since 1-0 on a breakaway, but the KSC goaltender came out aggressively and stopped the shot to keep the game tied. "We have some things we need to work on," said Arsenault. "We need to play better with the lead and we need to slow up the fast-break opportunities."

Keene State then took the offensive, as Brown would score two of KSC's next four goals, including the game-winner with 8:06 left on a designed play from just inside the circle from junior midfielder Nicole Curry (Hampstead, N.H.).

Auer responded, going coast-to-coast to beat Taylor with 6:06 left, and Spartan midfielder Mariah Lesure (Vernon, Vermont) cut through the crease and found an open lane to make it a one goal game with 5:32 to play.

But Keene State would possess the ball for most of the remainder of the game, and run out the clock on Castleton State, earning the 13-12 non-conference victory.

Senior Sammie Benson (Hampstead, N.H.) tallied four points on two goals and two assists. Sophomore Eliza Witherbee (Newburyport, Mass.) had three points on two goals and an assist, while sophomore Julie Trombetta (Trumbull, Conn.) also netted two goals in KSC's win.

Borjeson scooped up four groundballs to go along with her five caused turnovers. Senior defender Sarah Valacer (Townsend, Mass.) had three groundballs and three caused turnovers in the win as well. Taylor finished with 10 saves to improve to 11-3 on the year.

Clark had three goals for the Spartans in the losing effort. Auer netted two, while junior midfielder Jessica Taplin (Barre, Vermont) rounded out the multiple goal scorers with two as well.

Junior defender Danielle Roberts (Saint Albans, Vermont) picked up a game-high six groundballs, while Spartan goaltender Kelsey McDonald (Burnt Hills, N.Y.) made eight saves to drop to 3-1 on the season.

The Owls return to action this weekend, as they will celebrate senior day against Little East rival Western Conn. State at Owl Athletic Complex at 1 p.m.