Owls to Host WCSU in Tournament Semifinals

            KEENE, N.H. 4/30/08 - The Keene State men's lacrosse team will begin defense of its Little East Conference crown with a semifinal tournament game against Western Conn. at Owl Athletic Complex on Thursday (4 p.m.)

            The second seeded Owls (9-2) received a first-round bye while Western Conn (11-6), the third seed, advanced to the semifinals with a 14-6 opening-round win over sixth seed UMass-Boston on Tuesday.

            This will be the first meeting between the Owls and Colonials in tournament play. KSC has won all five regular season games against WCSU, including a 14-5 victory in Danbury back on April 12.  Owl attack players Tony Santa Fe and Josh Nugent had four goals each in the game.      

            Since the inception of the LEC tournament in 2001, Keene State has qualified every year, except the initial season.  The Owls have reached the finals the past five years, claiming the championship in 2005 and 2007.  KSC defeated ECSU 18-6 in last year's title game.

            Becoming a varsity team in 2004, WCSU has reached the semifinals in 2005 and 2007.  Last season, WCSU dropped a semifinal game to ECSU 21-11.