Four Owls earn LEC honors

KEENE, N.H. 5/4/09 - Lauren Sawyer, who was named the most outstaning player of the LEC women's lacrosse tournament, leads a list of four Owl athletes honored by the conference on Monday.

2009 Little East Women's Lacrosse Most Outstanding Player
Lauren Sawyer (Westbrook, Maine), Sophomore, Attack, Keene State College

In two games this past week, Sawyer paced the Keene State College attack with nine points, on four goals and five assists, to help the Owls capture their first Little East Women's Lacrosse Championship and berth into the 2009 NCAA Division III Tournament. On April 30, the Westbrook, N.Y. product handed out three helpers as Keene State defeated intra-state rival Plymouth State University, 13-7. Later in the week, Sawyer registered six points, including four markers, as the Owls upset top-seeded Eastern Connecticut in overtime, 9-8. She scored on a free position shot late in the second half to force the extra session, and assisted on the game-winning goal with 1:54 remaining on the clock.

Men's Track Athlete of the Week
Peter Najem (Derry, N.H.), Senior, Keene State College

Najem won the 800-meter race at the New England Division III Championships on Saturday. He completed the course in time of 1:52.84 to defeat the 26-person field.

Men's Co-Field Athletes of the Week
Bryan Kolacz (Brentwood, N.H.), Sophomore, Keene State College

Kolacz continued his strong spring season by capturing the hammer and discus events at the New England Division III Track and Field Championships at Springfield College on Saturday. Kolacz had a winning throw of 189'-10" in the hammer and a mark of 154'-09" in the discus. Keene State placed ninth in the team standings with 35 points.

Women Field Athlete of the Week
Samantha Hirsh (Holliston, Mass.), Senior, Keene State College

Hirsh placed second in the javelin throw at the New England Division III Championships with a throw of 125'-00".