LEC announces field hockey and women's volleyball honors

                KEENE, N.H. 11/10/09 - Keene State College was well-represented in the  field hockey and women's volleyball honors announced by the Little East Conference on Tuesday.   A total of seven Keene State student athletes were recognized by the LEC, including seniors Carly Benning (Brewster, Mass.) and Erin Dallas (Marlow, N.H.), who was named field hockey offensive and defensive players of the year respectively.

FIELD HOCKEY

                Benning is the sixth Keene State field hockey player to be named the top offensive player in the Little East and first since Dallas shared the award in 2007. The Brewster, Mass. product is making her third consecutive appearance on the all-conference teams and second straight on the first team. A prolific goal scorer, Benning is currently second on the Little East single-season list for points (58) and goals (27). A starter in all 23 matches, she registered multiple points in 18 matches. Benning matched her season-high with five points twice on the season, most recently against Western New England on Sept. 10.  She had a knack for netting the decisive score this season, penning the game-winner in her ledger in 14 of Keene State's 18 victories.  Benning is currently fourth on KSC's all-time goal (54) and point (124) career list.  She is the seventh Owl to reach the coveted 100-point career milestone.

                Dallas is the first student-athlete in the history of the Little East to be honored as the both the offensive and defensive player of the year in her career. The native of Marlow, N.H. is making her third consecutive appearance on the All-Little East, first-team. Dallas helped anchor an Owls' defensive squad that posted a program-best 12 shutouts, including six scoreless matches to start the 2009 season. Keene State limited its opponents to fewer than two markers in 16 matches to post a team goals against average of 0.99. She is just one defensive save shy of matching the Owls' single-season record set by Alyssa Rowell (13) last season. Dallas also contributed to the offensive rush on penalty corners with 14 points, including 10 helpers.  Returning to the Keene State team after making a miraculous comeback from a post-surgical infection to play her final season for the Owls, Dallas  became the Owls all-time assist (42) leader this season.

                Earning conference honors for the first time, seniors Vikki Stoessel (Derry, N.H.) and Tara Murphy (Salisbury, N.H.), and junior Leigh Smith (Sanbornton, N.H.) were selected to the All-LEC second-team.   Starting in all 23 games in goal for the Owls, Stoessel, a four-time LEC goalie of the week, has compiled a 0.98 GAA and a .886 save percentage while posting a school record 10 shutouts.  Her .886 save pct. is third best in Division III.  Murphy, who played the last third of the season with a cast on her hand, helped fortify the Owls defense while the speedy Smith, a midfielder, excelled in KSC's transition game.

                Keene State (18-5) host Plymouth State in a first-round ECAC tournament game on Wednesday ( 3 p.m.).

WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL

                The Keene State women's volleyball team placed two players on the All-Little East Conference team.   Elyse Davis (Londonderry, N.H.) a sophomore middle-hitter was named to the first-team while junior outside hitter Bridget O'Bryant (Merrimack, N.H.) was picked to the second team.

                Davis had a solid sophomore campaign for the Owls, leading the team in hitting pct. (.346) and total blocks (95), and was second in kills (347).  She had a career high 19 kills in the Owls' LEC quarterfinals tournament match against Rhode Island College and posted a season high seven blocks on four occasions.

                O'Bryant followed up her fine rookie year an equally strong sophomore season for the Owls.  Named to the All-LEC team for the second straight season, the powerful sophomore hitter topped the team in kills (371) and was second in hitting percentage (.252).  Saving her best for last, she had a career high 23 kills in the Owls' LEC quarterfinal tournament match against Rhode Island College.

                The Owls concluded their season with a 18-17 record.