KEENE, N.H. 10/19/13 – The Keene State College field hockey team moved into sole possession of first place in the Little East Conference with a 2-0 shutout victory over Eastern Conn. State University at Owl Athletic Complex on Saturday.  

The Owls (13-3, 8-0 LEC), who remain undefeated in league play, move ahead of UMass-Dartmouth (12-2, 7-1 LEC) which lost 2-1 in a game decided by penalty stokes to Bridgewater State. 

Eastern Conn. (7-8, 3-5 LEC) has dropped four of its last five games.

Sophomore Haylie Dolan (West Brookfield, Mass.) and freshman Sami Smith (Merrimack, N.H.) found the back of the net for the Owls against ECSU.

"It was a more physical game than we expected," said KSC Coach Amy Watson.  "We had a lot of opportunities, but their defense is pretty solid and their goalie had a great game."  

Dolan's first half goal came off a corner opportunity.  After missing on its first scoring attempt, a persistent Owl offense kept the ball in the circle.  Senior Aimee Donaruma (Hampden, Mass.) found Dolan in front who knocked the ball into the net for her sixth goal of the season.

Smith gave KSC an insurance goal at the 61:25 mark of the second half, scoring on a rebound for her 10th goal of the season. 

Warrior freshman goalie Samantha Scavo (Redding, Conn.) kept it a two goal games with several big saves later in the half.    She denied KSC junior Marissa Lemoine (Berlin, N.H.) with a diving save across the net.

Keene State had a wide advantage in shots (20-3) and corners (15-1.

KSC sophomore goalie Chloe Audesse (Goffstown, N.H.) didn't make a save in picking-up her fourth shutout of the season. 

Scavo had a busy game between the pipes for the Warriors, stopping 11 shots.

Both teams have LEC games on Tuesday.  Keene State will be at Westfield State (7 p.m.) while Eastern Conn. hosts western Conn. (6 p.m.)