KEENE, N.H. 10/1/13 – The Keene State College women's soccer team gave coach Denise Lyons an early birthday present, scoring four unanswered goals en route to a 4-1 come-from-behind non-conference win over Wheaton College at Owl Athletic Complex on Tuesday night.

With the victory, KSC (7-2-1) extends its winning streak to five games.  Wheaton (6-4-1) saw its three game winning streak come to an end.  It was the Owls first win over the Lyons since their first ever metting in the 1998 season.  "This is a huge win for us. They're a very good team always regionally ranked," said Lyons, who will celebrate her birthday on Wednesday. "They gave me a great second half."

Senior Jessica Berthiaume (Worcester, Mass.) broke a 1-1 tie with her team-leading seventh goal of the season at the 60:17 mark of the second half.  Berthiaume has scored the game-winning goal in Keene State's last three games. "I'm just trying to be aggressive and take more shots," said Berthiaume.  "It's a great win for us."

The Owls continued their second half uprising with two more goals to account for the final score.

Junior Gabriella Verde (Miami, Fla.) gave Wheaton a 1-0 lead at the 20:27 mark of the first half when she pounced on a loose ball and slid it into the left corner of the net.

Senior Kristen Huckins (Westmoreland, N.H.) tied the game eight minutes later with her first goal of the season.  "The two defenders spilt apart and it made like Moses parting the Red Sea,' said Huckins. "I just went through the center and soon as I got to the top of the 18 I took a shot and it went in."  

Keene State junior goalie Torrie Crenson (North Salem, N.Y.) kept the game tied when she came out to stop a break-away by Wheaton sophomore Julia Cipriano (Middlebury, Conn.) 10 minutes into the second half. "I just timed it right," said Crenson, who finished the game with seven saves. "I got down real fast and stopped it and we cleared the ball out."  

That save ignited the Owls' offense that netted three second half goals. "It was a great seeing the offense score like that," said Crenson.  "I just wanted to run down the field and give them a big hug." 

After Berthiaume scored the go-ahead goal, Huckins netted her second of the game when she got a foot on a ball served into the box by senior Brittany Boscarino (Ellington, Conn.).

Freshman Brittany Tolla (Sandy Hook, Conn.) completed the scoring with her second goal of the season, dribbling down the left side and depositing the ball into the far corner of the net.

KSC peppered the Lyons net with 15 shots on goal.  Sophomore Lauren Thacker (Brunswick, Maine) had a busy night between the pipes, making 11 saves.

Keene State returns to Little East Conference play on Saturday with a game against Rhode Island College (6 p.m.).