KEENE, N.H. 10/19/13 –  Keene State College suffered its first Little East loss on Saturday, dropping a hard-fought 3-2 game to UMass-Boston in a battle of two of the top conference teams at Owl Athletic Complex.

Junior Krista Ledin (Bridgewater, Mass.) scored two goals, including the game-winner with 3:07 to play to give the Beacons the victory.   Keene State had fought came back from a 2-0 deficit to tie the game.

"When you don't take advantage of your scoring opportunities it comes back to haunt you," said KSC Coach Denise Lyons.  "We missed our chances and they didn't miss theirs.   Kristen Ledin is a very good player and she showed us how to finish.  It's very disappointing."

"I told my team you can't play for 45 minutes in the LEC and expect to win," Lyons said.  "You have to play for 90 minutes and we didn't do that today."

With the loss, Keene State (11-4-1, 4-1 LEC), which lost two straight games for the first time this season,  is locked in a three-way tie for first place with UMass-Boston (11-4, 4-1 LEC) and Western Conn. (10-6, 4-1 LEC)

UMass-Boston struck for the first goal just five minutes into the game.  The Beacons were awarded a free quick just outside the box.  KSC junior goalie Torrie Crenson (North Salem, N.Y.) made the initial save on a drive by junior Amanda Pugliese (Pembroke, Mass.), but senior Tayla Andrews (Plymouth, Mass.) knocked the rebound into the open net.

Keene State had a couple of chances to get the equalizer.  Taking a back pass, junior Alex Haley's (Laconia N.H.) long shot hit off the crossbar.  Later, senior Jessica Berthiaume (Worcester, Mass.) broke down the right side on a transition play, but her shot just missed the far post.

Berthiaume had another opportunity to tie the game just before the half. Coming right down the middle, she got free for a shot that sailed over the crossbar. 

UMass-Boston added to its lead a few minutes into the second half.  Junior Ericka Garufi (Milton, Mass.) sent a short cross over to Ledin who buried the ball just under the cross bar.

After missing a couple of her early chances, Berthiaume finally found the back of the net at the 36:22 mark of the second half to cut the Beacons leads to 2-1.  Controlling the ball just outside the box, she drove it into the top right corner for her ninth goal of the season. 

The Owls tied the game on a great individual effort by senior Kara Pavlidis (Lee, N.H.).  Dribbling the ball up the right side, she got around a UMB defender and in full stride shot the ball toward the goal. The ball hit off the right post and bounced into the net.

Senior Brittany Boscarino (Ellington, Conn.) also gave KSC a lead with 10 minutes to play.  Her curling free kick just missed the far wide post of the net.

Minutes later, Pugliese almost put the Beacons ahead.  Turning inside the box, she let go a short shot that Crenson came out and blocked.

Ledin broke the tie with 3:07 to play.  Taking a lead pass from Pugkuese, She broke away from two Owl defenders and beat Crenson with a drive into the far corner of the net for her second goal of the game and 24th of the season.

KSC had one last chance to get the equalizer on a direct kick in the closing minute, but the Beacons were able to clear the ball away.

UMass-Boston had a slim 16-14 advantage in shots while KSC got one more (4-3) corner opportunity in the game.

Crenson finished the game with six saves.  Junior Kristen Spain (Quincy, Mass.) tuned aside five shots for the Beacons.

Keene State will be at Bridgewater State on Wednesday (7 p.m.).  UMB returns home to face Brandeis on Thursday (3:30 p.m.).