KEENE, N.H 11/9/13- The wait is over.  After an nine year drought, the second seeded Keene State College women's soccer team captured the Little East Conference Tournament championship with a 1-0 victory over fifth seed Eastern Conn. State University at Owl Athletic Complex on Saturday.

It was a long-awaited title for the Owls (17-4-1), who were making their 11th appearance in the finals.   KSC won titles in 2002 and 2004, but have been shutout since then.  Eastern Conn. had been a thorn in the Owls' side.  Eastern and Keene have met five previous times in the championship match with the Warriors prevailing four times.   On three occasions, ECSU came into Owl Athletic Complex as the second seed and upset the top-seeded Owls.  Two of the most stinging losses came in 2003 and 2011 when the Warriors got past Keene State on penalty kicks.  

"We came close in the past, but not close enough until today. I'm especially happy for my eight seniors who will get to go to the NCAA tournament," said KSC Coach Denise Lyons.   "All- season they worked hard and today we got the result we've been waiting for a long time."

"This championship means the world to me," said senior back Kelsie Bailey (Barre, Vt.).  "To finally beat them feels awesome." 

One of those seniors, Kristen Huckins (Westmoreland, Mass.) came through with the winning goal.  With 2:15 to go in the first half, KSC was awarded a direct just outside the box. "I was looking around to see who was going to step up and take the shot and no one did. Alex (Haley) told me to take it," said Huckins.  "They didn't have their wall set up correctly. I saw there was a gap on the left side. The whistle blew and I just took the shot." 

"I was crossing my fingers that it was going to hold up.  I knew our team is strong, so I had faith," added Huckins about her game-winner and fifth goal of the season.

Huckins had the best opportunity to put the Owls on the board in the early going, but her shot from just outside the box was tipped over the crossbar by ECSU junior goalie Taylor Shannon (Waterford, Conn.)

Eastern had a chance to score at the 17:41 mark when they were awarded a direct kick just to the left of the box. KSC junior goalie Torrie Crenson (North Salem, N.Y.) went up to make the save and pounced on the rebound before a Warrior could get a foot on it. "I got a hand on the first shot and when I saw the rebound, I got right on top of it,' said Crenson, who finished the game with four saves. 

The Owls kept on trying to get through a packed in Warrior defense and get a quality shot on net. "The first half I thought we dominated.  We pushed it up the middle but they played a very defensive game and it was working for them," said Lyons.    

After Huckins' goal late in the half, the Owls tried to open up their offense in the second half. KSC was given a second direct kick at the 16:56 mark of the second half.  Huckins sent the ball over to junior Maggie Grayson (Sugar Hill, Ga.) but her header just missed the far post.

Later in the half, Warrior freshman Hailey Lehning (Woodbury, Conn.) broke in alone.  Bailey caught up with her and warded her off the ball that rolled harmlessly to Crenson. 

Keene State defense did the job, limiting the Warriors to just four shots. "Our job was to shut them down,' said Bailey. "The defense came from our midfield today.  They shut it down. If anything snuck through we were able to get it."  

"We were winning 50-50 balls and running through them," said junior midfielder Alex Haley (Laconia, N.H.).

"When it was in our half, we got it done and didn't let them get by," said sophomore back Jennifer Wilson (Plymouth, Mass.), who was named the tournament's most outstanding player.  "It was a tight game, but it was awesome."

Looking for the equalizer, the Warriors did mount some pressure late in the game.  Senior Nicole Leonard (Rutherford, N.J.) had a drive in the box that Crenson was able to save.

Shannon, who was pressed in service after freshman starter Chelsea Santos went down with an injury, made seven saves for Eastern, which advance to the championship match for the eighth time in the last 11 season.  The Warriors (10-9-1), the first fifth seed to reach the finals, have won three titles, the most recent coming in 2011.

"I can't wait to go to the NCAAs" said Wilson.  "It's a great opportunity and I have the best team.  I love them all."