SALEM, MASS 10/9/13 — Junior Melissa Habelow (Belmont, Mass.) and freshman Sami Smith (Merrimack, N.H.) netted first half goals and Keene State College's defense did the rest, leading  the Owls to a 2-0 shutout  win over the Salem State Vikings in a Little East Conference field hockey game on Wednesday night at Alumni Field.

Winners of four of its last five games, Keene State ups its record to 11-2 on the season, and remains unbeaten (6-0) in the conference and tied for first place with UMass-Dartmouth. Salem State slips to 5-5, and 3-3 in conference.

Habelow started the scoring early when she rifled in a pass from senior Kaitlyn Simula (Bridgewater, NH) in the first minute of the game for her sixth goal of the season . Keene State pressured the Vikings defense steadily throughout the period, taking 13 corners in the half. However, Salem State goalie, Carolyn Woodin (Arlington, MA) kept the home team in the game, making several outstanding saves to keep the contest close.

Smith recorded her ninth goal of the year when she tipped in shot by junior Marisa Lemoine (Berlin, NH) to give Keene State a 2-0 advantage heading into the half.

The second half was a defensive stalemate as the Owls once again dominated possession, taking six corners. Keene State, which outshot Salem state 17-2 for the game kept the ball in their zone for most of the half, but were unable to take advantage. The Vikings managed just two shots for the game, neither on net.

Wooden played well in the loss, making 11 saves for Salem State while KSC sophomore goalie Chloe Audesse (Goffstown, NH) didn't have to make a save to notch her third shutout of the season. .

The Owls will play Worcester St. on Saturday at 2:00 PM.