LEC announces men's and women's soccer honors

                 KEENE, N.H. 11/11/09 - Keene State College placed a combined 10 players on  the All-Little East Conference soccer teams announced on Wednesday.

                WOMEN'S SOCCER

                Keene State placed six players on the LEC women's soccer All-Conference team.  Junior Katie Bradford (Lebanon, N.H.), seniors Molly Brunelle (Walpole, N.H.) and Jaclyn Grant (Newington, Conn.) and sophomore Megan Dempsey (East Weymouth, Mass.) were named to the first-team while senior Kendra Spencer (Petoskey, Mich.) and sophomore Bridget Hennessey (Essex Junction, Vt.) were second-team selections.

                One of the top forwards in the LEC, Bradford, a three-time LEC offensive player of the week, is tied for second in the conference with 14 goals and third in points (32).  Bradford scored at least one goal in 11 of the 22 games she played with four being game winners.   Earning first-team honors for the second year in a row, Bradford has 44 career goals, placing her third on KSC's all-time list.

                Brunelle makes her first appearance on the first-team after being a second team pick the past three seasons.  A key play-maker in the Owls midfield, Brunelle had racked up two goals and a team-high eight assists this season.  

                A two-time All-LEC first-team selection, Grant anchors an Owl defense that allowed a conference best four goals and posted 10 shutouts.  A four-time LEC defensive player of the wee, she also helped out offensively, chipping in with a couple of goals and an assist.

                Taking over as the Owls top goalie this season, Dempsey has a 0.92 GAA and .806 save percentage and tops the LEC with six shutouts.  Dempsey was named LEC goalie of the week three times.

                Spencer and Hennessey are newcomers to the All-LEC team.  A major target midfielder with a strong leg, Spencer tallied five goals, including three-game-winners and two assists for the Owls.  Hennessey moved to the key sweeper spot for KSC this season.  Using her strong leg to knock the ball out of danger or to send it into the box for an offensive opportunity, Hennessey elevated her play this season.

MEN'S SOCCER

                Bouncing back from a disappointing 2008 season, the 2009 KSC men's soccer team placed four players on the LEC All-Conference team.  Senior midfielder Ross Stanton (Bethlehem, N.Y.) was the lone Owl on the first-team while freshmen forwards Joe Senecal (Manchaug, Mass.)and Shawn Shand (Keene, N.H.) and junior back Rob Musto (Guilford, Conn.) were named to the second team.

                An unsung team leader, Stanton provided KSC with a strong, physical presence at midfield. He battled for every air ball while keeping opposing strikers at bay.

                Finishing the season each with 10 goals, Senecal and Shand supplied the Owls with much-needed speed and a nose for the net.   Senecal was at his best in conference play with his three two-goal games coming against LEC opponents.  Shand, twice named the LEC rookie of the week, also made an impressive debut with five game-winning goals.

                Musto blossomed into a key member of the Owls defensive corps this season. The junior back combined his skill and quickness to help KSC lead the LEC in fewest goals allowed.