Softball and Women's Lacrosse Teams Earn ECAC Tournament Berths

           KEENE, N.H. 5/5/08 - Keene State College softball and women's lacrosse teams have received berths to their respective ECAC New England tournaments, it was announced on Monday. 

            Keene State has been selected as the second seed in the eight-team softball tournament, and the Owls are seeded fourth in the seven-team women's lacrosse tourney. 

            In the ECAC softball tournament, Keene State (25-12) will host seventh seed St. Joseph's College of Maine in an opening round game on Wednesday (4:30 p.m.).  KSC advanced to the championship round of the Little East tournament before falling to eventual champ Rhode Island College on Saturday. St. Joseph's College (26-16) from Standish, Maine lost an elimination game to Simmons College in the Great Northeast Conference tournament. The Monks are making their first ECAC Tournament appearance.   

            "This team showed a lot of heart coming back in the LEC tournament and reaching the championship round," said KSC Coach Charlie Beach.  "They deserve the opportunity to continue their season in the ECAC tournament."

            The four remaining teams will move into a double elimination format at the highest remaining seed that is available to host the tournament.  Brandeis (34-9-1) is the tourney's top seed.

            Keene State will be making its ninth overall trip to the ECACs.  KSC won the 1990 and 1993 softball titles as a Division II member.  In Division III, the Owls have made three appearances.  In 1998 the tournament was not completed due to rain.  In the 2004 double-elimination tournament, they dropped semifinal games to Smith College and Coast Guard. In 2006, KSC defeated Curry College in a first-round game before the tournament was postponed because of rain.

            The Owls (12-7), who lost to Southern Maine (17-16) in the semifinals of the LEC women's lacrosse tournament last Thursday, will host fifth-seed Norwich University (11-4) on Wednesday at 4 p.m.  A second-year varsity program, Norwich won the inaugural GNAC tournament on Saturday.

            "They just want to continue to play," said KSC Coach Michelle Mason about her team. "We have 10 freshmen, so the tournament experience can only help them down the road."

            Should the Owls defeat the Cadets, they would likely tangle with top-seeded Bridgewater State in the ECAC Tournament semifinals on Saturday, May 10, in Bridgewater, Mass.  The Bears received a first-round bye and will host the event's semifinals and finals on Saturday and Sunday (May 10-11).       

            Keene State will be making its fifth trip (2003, 2004, 2005 and 2007) to the ECACs.  They won the championship in 2004.  Last season, KSC lost a first-round game (11-9) to Worcester State.