MIDDLEBURY, VT.  9/12/12 – The 10th ranked Middlebury College women's soccer team shutout Keene State College 3-0 in a non-conference game played at Dragone Field on Wednesday afternoon. 

            It was the fourth straight loss and the second game in a row the Owls (1-3) has been blanked. Middlebury (2-0), which advance to the final 16 in last year's NCAA tournament, remains undefeated. It's the first four-game losing streak for KSC since joining Division III and the team's first four game slide since 1988 Owls dropped its first four games of the season.

            After a scoreless first half, the Panthers found the back of the net three times. Junior Scarlet Kirk scored on a turn-around shot 54 seconds in the second half to make it 1-0.  Senior Amy Schlueter's penalty kick goal made it 2-0 at the 63:05 mark. KSC sophomore goalie Torrie Crenson (North Salem, N.Y.) guessed the right side on the PK, but Schlueter was able to slide the ball under her for the goal.

            Keene State has several chances to get back in the game. Within a two minute span, junior Jessica Berthiaume (Worcester, Mass.) hit the left post with a shot and junior Kara Pavlidis (Lee, N.H.) was robbed when Panther junior goalie Elizabeth Foody went airborne and knocked away her drive with her right hand.

            Freshman Hannah Robinson netted Middlebury's third goal at the 73:30 mark of the second half. 

            "Once again we had opportunities to score, but couldn't capitalize on our chances," said KSC Coach Denise Lyons. "However, the fact that Middlebury is ranked and we stayed right with them is a good sign.  Now we know we can play at this level."

            The first half wasn't lacking for action.  Crenson stopped a long shot by Robinson and then denied Kirk's point-blank rebound bid.  KSC junior back Kelsie Bailey (Barre, Vt.) also came up with a defensive gem, knocking the ball away at the goal line after Crenson was pulled out of position. 

            Middlebury outshot the Owls 25-11.  A busy Crenson made nine saves while Foody stopped four KSC shots. 

            Keene State begins Little East Conference play on Saturday (1 p.m.) when it travels to UMass-Boston.