Megan Dempsey, Lyons Earn Major LEC Awards

NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. – The Keene State College women's soccer team earned two of the five major awards this afternoon, when the All-Little East teams were announced this afternoon. Senior goalkeeper Megan Dempsey (East Weymouth, Mass.) was named as the Defensive Player of the Year, while Denise Lyons was selected by her peers as the Coach of the Year.

In addition to the major awards program, the Little East honored 25 student-athletes on its all-conference teams. The top team was comprised of 12 players, while the second squad was represented by 13 student-athletes.

Joining Megan Dempsey on the first team was senior Melissa Dempsey (East Weymouth, Mass.), junior Brittany Croteau (Swanzey, N.H.) and sophomore Jessica Berthiaume (Worcester, Mass.).

Earning second team all-LEC honors, seniors Sia Karamourtopolous (Fremont, N.H.), Erin Griffin (Londonderry, N.H.) and sophomore Kelsie Bailey (Barre, VT).

Megan Dempsey is making her second career appearance on the All-Little East, first-team as the top keeper selection. The East Weymouth, Mass. product is just the second Owl to be honored as the top defensive player in the conference circuit and first since Elizabeth Varshon earned the award in 2002 and 2004. Dempsey ranked among the Little East leaders in shutouts (2nd, 9), goals against average (3rd, 1.03), save percentage (3rd, .818), and saves (4th, 4.50 per game). A starter in all 22 matches, she backstopped Keene State to a 13-7-2 overall record and the regular-season title. Dempsey allowed one or fewer goals in 16 matches, including holding six conference opponents scoreless. She boasted a season-high scoreless streak of 353 minutes, and five seasons during the span of six matches between Sept 14 and Sept. 27. Dempsey made a season-best eight stops twice on the campaign, most recently against nationally-ranked Middlebury. She was named the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III New England Defensive Player of the Week for her performance during the week ending Sept. 26.

Lyons guided Keene State College to the program's second Little East regular-season crown in the past three years. She is making her fifth appearance as the top coach in the conference circuit and first since 2002. The Owls were just the fourth Little East squad to post an undefeated 7-0 mark in conference play. Keene State earned the top seed in the Little East Women's Soccer Championship and hosted the semifinal and championship rounds. The Owls advanced on penalty kicks (3-1) against UMass Boston to reach the championship round for the 10th time in program history.

Keene State recently earned the No. 2 seed in the 2011 Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III New England Championship and will host Norwich University on Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m.