Owl Teams Ready for Season Opening Games

KEENE, N.H., 8/30/10 – The 2010 season begins this week for Keene State College fall athletic teams.  Weary of intra-squad and preseason games, the Owls get a chance to play for real starting on Wednesday.

The Keene State men’s soccer team will get the ball rolling when it travels to Henniker to battle New England College in a 4 p.m. game. Back at Owl athletic Complex, the KSC field hockey team faces-off against Western New England College at 6 p.m. The Owl women’s soccer team takes the field 30 minutes later (6:30 p.m.) against Johnson & Wales University. 

The venue switches to Spaulding Gym on Thursday night as the Keene State women’s volleyball team begins its season against Colby-Sawyer College (7 p.m.)

Keene State men’s soccer coach Ron Butcher said Owl soccer fans will enjoy his teams’ upbeat style of play. “We’re going to play an exciting brand of soccer which is going to be a rag-tag, high-pressure style,” he said.   “It’s not going to be pretty, but it’s going to cause a lot of turnovers and a lot of transition type goals. 

Keene State field hockey coach Amy Watson and Denise Lyons, the Owls women’s soccer coach, are both anxious to get their seasons underway.  “The first game is always interesting because you find out you’re ready in some ways, and not in others,” said Watson. “We’re throwing a lot of freshmen into the fire, so it will be interesting to see the results.”

Lyons is taking a different approach to start this season, playing her top-11 players regardless of position. “Some players are going to be out of position and its going to take a little while for them to adapt,” she said.  “I don’t want quality players sitting on the bench.”

If Lyons is looking for a good omen, she just has to check the history book. The have won nine straight opening season matches, dating back to 2001.

With unseasonable warm temperatures expected for Wednesday, KSC coaches will find out if their teams are in shape.  “We played a scrimmage against St. Anselm on Saturday in the heat, so that was a good test to find out where we are from a physical point of view,” said Butcher.  “You can’t play this game of you’re not in shape.”

“The weather was great for preseason, nice and cool,” said Watson.  “But one of our main focuses is to get the team in shape.  That’s why we worked as hard as we did.”

“Everyone came back in shape,’ said Lyons.  “We pushed them hard during preseason and they all survived.  Now it’s just a matter of bringing it into the game.”

Keene State women’s volleyball coach Bob Weiner not only has been concern about getting his team in shape, but also preseason injuries. The Owls will begin their season without a pair of All-Conference players.  Both middle blocker Elyse Davis and Bridget O’Bryant will be on the sidelines to start the season.  “Other than the injuries, it’s been a terrific preseason,” said KSC Coach Bob Weiner.  “We accomplished a lot, but we won’t be able to put the players we want on the floor at the same time for the next few weeks. “We’re a good team without them and a better team with them.”