DANBURY, CONN.  9/29/12 – Keene State College erupted for four first half goals on the way to a 5-1 Little East Conference field hockey win over Western Conn. State in Danbury, Conn. on Saturday.

            Winners of three straight, Keene State improves to 6-4 overall and 4-1 in the LEC. Western Conn. (3-6, 1-4 LEC) has dropped four out of its last five games. 

            Senior Kalin Billert (Center Conway, N.H.) and freshman Haylie Dolan (West Brookfield, Mass.) each found the back of the net twice for the Owls.  Junior Aimee Donaruma (Hampden, Mass.) also scored for KSC. Dolan has scored four goals in the Owls' last two games. 

            "We played well, but they didn't let up," said KSC Coach Amy Watson.  "We had some great goals, but it was a back-and-fourth game."

            Watson complemented the play of freshmen Dolan and Lyndsie Rabenis (North Hampton, N.H.), who had two assists in the game.  "Haylie is working hard and Lyndsie is making things happen.  She's setting everything up and other players are finishing."

            Donaruma gave KSC a 1-0 lead just 3:46 into the game.  Dolan and Billert scored two minutes apart to ups the lead to 3-0.
            After Kristy Matasavage got the Colonials' on the board, Dolan netted her second of the game to give Keene State a 4-1 halftime lead.

            Billert scored the only goal in the second half, giving her a team leading 12 on the season.

            The Owls had a 16-10 advantage in shots and an 11-7 edge on corner opportunities.

            Sophomore Caitlin Davino-Draper (Hanover, Mass.) started in goal for KSC and had four saves in 53:22 minutes of play. Freshman Meaghan Dwyer (Rutland, Mass.) took over for the final 16:38 and had one save.

            Courtney Hearn stopped eight shots for WCSU.

            Keene State hosts Salem State on Tuesday (6 p.m.).