KEENE, N.H. -- The Keene State College field hockey team slipped one spot to No. 20 in the nation in the latest edition of the Kookaburra/NFHCA Division III Coaches' Poll. The Owls posted a 1-1 mark last week, defeating Williams College (1-0) prior to suffering their first loss of the campaign at Framingham State (3-0).

Under the direction of Head Coach Amy Watson, Keene State (6-1, 1-1 LEC) has scheduled a grueling non-conference schedule in 2009, featuring three opponents ranked in the national coaches' survey. The Owls earned their first signature victory of the season on Sept. 8 when Keene State shut out then-No.19- Springfield College, 3-0. Keene State will face its next two-nationally ranked opponents on the road, traveling to No. 10 Trinity College (Conn.) on Sept. 23 and No. 17 Middlebury College on Oct. 13.

The victory over the Ephs was the first for the Owls in eight matches. Sophomore Jackie Benson (Hampstead, N.H.) recorded the game-winner in the 14th minute, while the hosts' stifling defensive attack made the marker stand up over the final 46 minutes of action.   

Keene State currently sits atop the national team rankings in save percentage (.945) and shutouts (6), while also ranking third in goals against average (0.50). Senior goalkeeper Vikki Stoessel (Derry, N.H.) backstopped the Owls' to six straight shutouts to open the 2009 season to establish a new program standard, surpassing the previous record holders (1981, 2007). Stoessel, who had her shutout streak snapped at 393 minutes and 38 seconds against the Rams on Sept. 21, has reached double digits in saves twice on the campaign. She leads the nation in save percentage (.939), while ranking sixth in goals against average (0.54).

Keene State returns to action on Sep. 23, when the Owls' travel to the No. 10 Bantams at 6 p.m.

2009 Kookaburra / NFHCA Division III National Coaches Poll

This is a listing of the top 20 teams in the 2009 Kookaburra / NFHCA Division III National Coaches Poll, as voted upon by NFHCA member coaches, with records through September 20, 2009 and total points (first-place votes are in parentheses).

1. Messiah College (6-0) 1112 (51)
2. Salisbury University (6-1) 1018
3. Tufts University (3-0) 966 (5)
4. The College of New Jersey (4-0) 908
5. Ursinus College (4-2) 815
6. SUNY Cortland (7-0) 802
7. Johns Hopkins University (5-1) 650
8. Lebanon Valley College (4-1) 620
9. Bowdoin College (2-1) 606
10. Trinity College (CT) (4-0) 537
11. Skidmore College (4-1) 513
12. Rowan University (3-2) 479
13. Gettysburg College (5-1) 472
14. Lynchburg College (5-2) 430
15. William Smith College (6-0) 337
16. Amherst College (3-1) 287
17. Middlebury College (1-2) 200
18. Stevens Institute of Technology (5-1) 176
19. Christopher Newport University (4-2) 127
20. Keene State College (6-1) 113 

This poll is available on the NFHCA website at www.nfhca.org. The next poll will be released on Tuesday, September 29, 2009. The Kookaburra / NFHCA Division III National Coaches Poll has no bearing on selection to the 2009 NCAA Division III Championship field.