Please rank your top three teams on the list below. Put a "1" in the box if you think it is the BEST team of the decade, a "2" for the second best and a "3" for the third best. Only the top three votes will be counted. Once you have picked your top three, scroll to the bottom of the page and click submit. After each team name and year, there is a synopsis of the team's honors and achievements.

2004 Men's Soccer   

The 2004 Keene State men's soccer team once again demonstrated why it is one of the top programs in the region.  Completing their season with a 16-4-1 overall record and a perfect 7-0 Little East slate, the Owls not only captured their fourth conference tournament title, but also earned its sixth NCAA Championship berth in the past eight years. A veteran team that included eight returning seniors, plus a strong recruiting class, KSC posted key regular season victories over nationally ranked opponents Wheaton College (2-1), Williams College (4-3), and Middlebury College (1-0). 
           
           After blanking Eastern Conn. (2-0) in the semifinals, Keene State claimed the LEC Championship with a decisive 3-1 win over R.I. College.  Senior back Jimmy Hogan was selected as the most outstanding player of the tournament.

            Earning an opening round bye, the Owls lost a 3-2 second round game to NCAA semifinalists Geneseo (N.Y.) State.   KSC finished 18th in the final NSCAA poll.


2002 Women's Soccer   

The Keene State women' s soccer team can look back at its 2002 season (20-3-1, 7-0 LEC) with a good deal of satisfaction.  Setting a record for victories (20) and longest winning streak, the Owls, who finished 12th in the final NSCAA poll, captured their first Little East Conference Championship and earned their first NCAA tournament berth since 1998.

            KSC came from behind to defeat longtime nemesis Western Conn. 2-2 in the LEC championship game, earning a berth to the NCAA tournament.  The Owls defeated Tufts University (1-0) before losing to Wheaton College (3-1) in the regional finals.

2006 Field Hockey  

The Keene State field hockey team made it three in a row in 2006.   The Owls defeated UMass-Dartmouth 2-1 to capture their third straight Little East championship and their fifth overall title.  Amanda Rosenbeck scored the winning goals for KSC.  Karen Robinson, who was named the tournament's most outstanding player, gave Keene State a 1-0 lead.

            Wellesley College washed a way the Owls (6-0) in a first round NCAA tournament game played under a torrential down pour at Owl Athletic Complex.

            Keene State (18-5, 11-0/1st LEC) headed into the LEC tournament with a seven game winning streak.  The Owls defeated Salem State (1-0) and Worcester State (2-1, OT) leading up to the championship.

            Keene State players received a net-full of awards at the conclusion of the season.  Goalie Sara Joyce, who led Division III in save percentage (.895), was named to both NFHCA and womensfieldhockey.com All-Americans teams.  She was also named the LEC's defensive player of the year and first-team All-LEC. 

2008 Volleyball 
 

The Owls won't soon forget their 2008 season. Setting a program record for wins in a season (29-9), the Owls captured their first LEC title and NCAA tournament berth.

            A team on a mission, KSC lived up to its LEC preseason ranking by posting a second straight undefeated (6-0) conference record. Earning a first-ever ranking in New England, the Owls re-wrote their record book during their historic season.  Junior Jordan Pokryfki set the career record for assists (3,473) and senior Sarah Peterson established a new career digs mark (1,443).  In addition, Senior Brittany O'Bryant continued to add to her all-time kill record (1,641) and set a new mark for total blocks (412).

            Tying a program record with 12 consecutive match victories, the top seeded Owls headed into tournament play determined to win its first LEC title,  Dispatching Western Conn. (3-1) in  the semifinals, the Owls defeated UMass-Boston (3-2) in an epic five-game match.  KSC came back from a 7-1 deficit in the deciding game to claim the crown.

            KSC saw its season come to end with a 3-0 loss to Williams College in a first-round game of the NCAA tournament. Sisters Brittany and Bridget O'Bryant along with Peterson and Pokryfki represented Keene State on the All-LEC first team.

2000 Men's Cross Country   

During the 2000 season, the Keene State men's cross team continued to demonstrate why it's among the nation's elite.  Capturing the Dartmouth and KSC Invitationals, winning the Little East Alliance title and placing a program-best second at the New England All-Division Championships, the Owls appeared set to make a run at the national championship.

            Led by Wilson Perez's first-place finish, KSC took its first step with its second straight regional championship.   However, Keene State saw its national title hopes fall just short with a second place performance at the NCAA championships.  Four Owls, Wilson Perez (4th), Joe Dunham (8th), Matt St. Germaine (18th), and Mark Miller (34th), returned to Keene with All-America certificates. 

            Perez and Coach Peter Thomas were recognized as regional runner and coach of the year respectively at the national meet.


2006 Women's Cross Country 
 

The Keene State women's cross country team climbed the mountain in 2006 and was rewarded with the programs first-ever NCAA Division III Championship berth.

The Owls finished a respectable 17th out of 32 teams at the championship with Breanne Lucey (28th) earning All-American honors.

Led by the dynamic duo of Lucey and Jennifer Adams, the Owls were a forced to be reckoned with form the opening gun.  With a lead pack that also included veterans Stephanie Westcott, Sophie Holly, and newcomers Sarah Miller, and Rita Marcotte, KSC began its season with solid performances at the Dartmouth and Bates Invitational.

Returning home, the Owls won the KSC Invitational for the first time since 2003.   After capturing the RPI Invitational, Keene State won its seventh straight LEC title on a soggy Owl Complex course. Saving their best for last, the Owls finished a highly respectable 10th at the All-New England championships, and stamped their ticket to the NCAA championship with a fifth place performance at the NCAA Regional meet. 

Lucey, who earlier in the season won individual championships at the KSC and RPI, and LEC races, led the Owls with a strong second place finish.  Adams, who won the Bates Invitational and share LEC honors with Lucey, was right behind in second place. Lucey became the sixth Owl women to earn All-American honors at the NCAA championship.  

2003-04 Men's Basketball   

The 2003-04 Keene State men's basketball team did something no other team had ever done - qualify for the NCAA tournament.  But the Owls didn't stop there.  KSC advanced to the Elite-8  by racing past Babson College (79-55) and shocking third ranked Rochester (82-79), before having its dream season end in the regional finals with a 79-64 loss to Williams College.

Posting a 25-6/13-1 LEC record, Keene State won both Little East regular season and tournament championships.  The Owls defeated rival Plymouth State (79-67) to win its first LEC crown.

The Owls finished 18th in the final D3hoops national poll.

2006-07 Women's Basketball 
 

Finishing its historic 2006-07 season with a 22-7 (12-2, 2nd, LEC) record, the Keene State women's basketball team had its best campaign as a Division III member.  The Owls not only earned its first NCAA Tournament berth, but also placed a program best second in the LEC standings. 

            A team on a mission, Keene State peaked at the right time, setting a school record with 11 straight wins, including an upset victory over LEC power Southern Maine in its final regular season game of the year. 

            The second-seeded owls posted LEC tournament wins over Plymouth State and Western Connecticut before coming up short against Southern Maine in the championship game.

            Receiving an at-large bid into the NCAA tournament, KSC upset Maine Maritime (61-51) in the first round before falling to top seed Bowdoin College (77-52) in the second round.

2008-09 Men's Swimming and Diving   

A young, but highly motivated Keene State men's swim/dive team had another very successful under Jack Fabian, the NEISDA coach of the year. 

Finishing their dual season with an 8-4 record, the Owls posted wins over Brandeis (172-122) and Bentley College (198-101) KSC won 14 of 16 events against the Falcons.

Keene State set eight school records on the way to finishing third at the ECAC Division III Championships.

The Owls saved their best for last by capturing their first-ever NEISDA championship.  Every one made a contribution, Doming Rose, who was named NEISDA swimmer of the meet, dominated the breast stroke races, Connor Pennoyer took care of the fly events, Karl Balinski shined in the freestyle sprints, and Dan Morse and Dan Theleen combined to top the field in distance free races.  Diving events were in the capable hands of Tim Thornton and Derek Peabody.  Several of the freshmen, including Harrison Hollingworth, who won the 100 I.M., and Colin Daly, who was a member of two winning medley relays also made a contribution.

The Owls won the championship in style, setting school records in 12 individual and five relay races. The 13 KSC competitors combined to earn 45 All-New England honors.

2008-09 Women's Swimming and Diving 

The 2008-09 Keene State women's swim team had a historical season in the pool.  The Owls not only captured their third straight Little East and second consecutive NEIDA championships, but also had their second swimmer qualify for the NCAA championships. Posting a 10-4 dual meet record, KSC had several impressive victories, including a 174-124 triumph over Bentley University.  

Junior Kristine Trutor set three individual records and qualified provisionally for the NCAA Division III Championships to lead Keene State College to its third straight Little East Conference Championship. The Owls set nine championship records, seven Owl marks and won each of the 14 swimming events to post a team score of 508 points.

Thirteen proved to be a lucky number for Keene State. The 13-member Owl team overcame the depth of Bentley College to capture its second consecutive NEISDA championship with 910 points.  The Owl had all the events covered; Jackie Foster (distance free), Jillian Whitaker (breast and sprints), Alea Paddock (I.M.), Maureen O'Leary (fly), Trutor (back). KSC also swept all five relays. Collectively, KSC set four pool records and set 14 KSC records.  That's in addition to six individual and two relay provisional qualifying times for the NCAA's and over 40 All-New England awards.

Trutor became the first Owl women's swimmer to score at the NCAA Division III Swimming and Diving Championships. She qualified for the finals in the 100 butterfly, placing 14th with a school record time of 57.09.

Trutor and freshman Jillian Whitaker were named LEC swimmer and rookie swimmer of the year respectively.

2000-01 Men's Indoor Track   

The Keene State men's indoor track team set numerous records and added regional and national honors during the 2000-01 season. 

Finishing third at the LEC championship, Mark Miller paced the Owls with wins in the 600-and, 1,000-meter races.  Joe Dunham (800), and Miller (1,000 and 5,000) won titles in their respective events at the New England Division III Championships. A week later, Wilson Perez (5,000)and Miller (mile) ran to first-place finishes at the New England (All-Division) Championships.

That set the stage for a memorable NCAA Championship for the Owls, as Miller won the national title in the 1,500 and Perez (4th-5,000), and Dunham placed sixth in the 800. 

2005-06 Women's Indoor Track 

It was an All-American weekend for the Keene State College women's track team as all five Owl competitors, including national champions Breanne Lucey and the distance medley relay team, returned from the NCAA Division III Championships at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Min., with All-American honors.

            Lucey raced to her national championship in the 800-meter race. With little time to enjoy her win, Lucey was back on the track joining teammates Jennifer Adams, Sarah Miller, and Krystin Gavin to win the national title in the distance medley relay. Earlier in the day, Crystal Blamy and Miller added their names to the list of KSC All-Americans. Blamy was finished fourth in the high jump competition and Miller placed eighth in the 400-meter race.    Overall, Keene State tied for fourth in the team standings with 26 points.



2008 Baseball   

The Keene State baseball team celebrated its 10th season as a member of the Little East by capturing its first Conference tournament championship n 2008. Ranked 16th and 24th respectively in D3 baseball and ABCA final polls, the Owls made their second straight trip to the NCAA tournament, setting a program record for wins (34-11, 12-2 LEC) in a season.

The top seed in the LEC tournament, KSC defeated third-seed University of Southern Maine 21-2 and 14-5 to win its first ever LEC crown. Keene State scored a combined 28 runs and collected 40 hits in the two wins over the Huskies. Jamie Morin pitched a masterful three-hitter with 13 strikeouts, and Greg Ford, who became KSC's home run king, cracked a three-run shot to lead the Owls to a 6-1 victory over St. Joseph's College of Maine in an opening NCAA New England Regional tournament game. Keene State bowed out of the tournament with losses to Wheaton College (12-2) and Southern Maine (8-0).


2005 Softball 

The 2005 Owl softball team finished the season with a 34-8 (10-4 LEC) record and advanced to the tournament in style. Not only did the Owls set a program record for wins, but posted three straight shutouts in the Little East tournament.

Riding the arm of pitcher Meghan McLoughlin and the timely hitting of Kari Gardner, Sarah Campbell, Melissa Scata, and Liz Mroczka, KSC blanked Western Conn. (2-0), top seed R.I. College (8-0), and Eastern Connecticut (2-0) to move on to the NCAA Tournament. A maestro on the mound, McLoughin recorded 28 strikeouts in her three shutouts and was named the tournament's most outstanding player.

Seeded third in the NCAA regionals, the Owls knocked off Maine-Farmington (3-1) and host Babson College (4-0) before falling to Williams College (1-0). Forced to battle back from the losers' bracket, KSC shut out top seed Endicott (4-0) behind an overpowering 11-strikeout performance from McLoughlin. Keene State's season came to an end later that afternoon with a second loss (5-0) to Williams.

2007 Men's Lacrosse   

The Owl men's lacrosse team captured the LEC Championship and earned an automatic NCAA bid. Undefeated in a regular season that included wins over NESCAC powers Colby and Williams College, the Keene State men's lacrosse team earned its second NCAA berth in the past three years by defeating Eastern Connecticut State18-6 in the championship game of the LEC Tournament.

The Owls became the first LEC team to claim an NCAA victory with their 14-11 first-round win over U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Sophomore attack Tony Santa Fe netted four goals, and junior goalie Matt Johnson set an Owl record with 23 saves in the game. Keene State's season came to an end with a tough 13-5 second-round loss to third-ranked Western New England College.Compiling a program-best 16-1 record, the Owls finished 17th in the final NEILA poll. Following the season, Sean Panora and Johnson, an honorable mentionAll-American, were selected as the LEC's co-offensive and defensive players of the year, respectively, and Mark Theriault received coaching honors.

2009 Women's Lacrosse   

The Owls captured their first Little East Championship and NCAA berth and finished 12-8, 5-1 LEC play. The team set a school record for consecutive wins (8) and tallied its most victories (5) in LEC play.

The Little East Champion Owls placed a program high six players on the All-Conference team. KSC had top scorers Lauren Sawyer (26-59-85), Jill Kirk (48-13-61) and Jamie Albert (37-16-53).  Sawyer set school records for assists in a game (8), season (59), and career (94) while Albert established a new mark with 10 goals in a game. Emily Persano and Annie Brown round out the list of KSC's All-LEC players. Persano, a midfielder, had a breakout sophomore season with 33 goals and 40 points and Brown anchored the Owls' defense. Senior Jen Gearing led the Owls in goal with a 10-7 record and 204 saves.

2001 Men's Outdoor Track 

Led by sophomore Mark Miller, the 2001 Keene State men's outdoor track team had a historic day on the oval at Millikin University in Decatur, Ill.

Mile ran to the national title in the 1,500 to become the first men's two time national champion at Keene State.  Miller also competed in the 5,000-meter race, placing 10th.

2007 Women's Outdoor Track 

Keene State College's Sarah Miller and Jennifer Adams earned All-America honors inall three events that they competed in at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championship held at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. The Owls completed the sweep on the final day of competition with Miller (800 meters) and Adams (5,000 meters) earning All-America honors withthird-place finishes in their respective races.

Earlier, Adams also earned the honor with her fourth-place performance in the 10,000-meter event. Overall, Keene State tallied 17 points to tie for 14th place in the team scoring. Miller, a senior, picked a perfect time to run the race of her life. Competing in the final event of her Owl track career,she placed third in the finals of the 800-meter event with a Keene State record time of 2:10.65. Adams, a junior, posted a personal best time of 16:58.66 with her third-place effort in the 5K.