WALTHAM, Mass. – After 110 minutes of scoreless play in the 2009 Eastern College Athletic Conference Division III New England Championship match today, the second-seeded Keene State College Owls connected on four of their five penalty kicks to take the crown from the two-time defending champion Brandeis University Judges, 4-2. KSC sophomore goalkeeper Megan Dempsey (East Weymouth, Mass.), who registered her third-straight shutout, was named ECAC tournament Most Valuable Player.

“We dominated most of the second half but just couldn’t find the back of the net,” said KSC head coach Denise Lyons. “Winning the ECAC’s is a great way to end our season and a nice way to send off our seniors.”

Brandeis (10-6-5) and Keene State (16-6-3) played an even first half, with the Judges outshooting the Owls, 6-4. Brandeis senior netminder Hillary Rosenzweig (Boca Raton, Fla.) made four saves, while Dempsey had three stops. Keene State also had one team save, as Brandeis sophomore midfielder Ali Theodore (Walpole, Mass.) had her attempt in the 22nd minute cleared off the line by senior midfielder Molly Brunelle (Walpole, N.H.) to ensure the 0-0 tie. “It was a great shot by the Brandeis player,” said Lyons. “Molly just threw herself in front of the ball to make sure they did not score.”

In the second half, Keene State had the better of the play. The Owls outshot Brandeis, 15-1, in the second 45 minutes of regulation, but Rosenzweig was up to the task, adding five more saves. The Judges, who played 110 minutes to penalty kicks in the semifinals, bounced back in the overtime sessions, getting the only shot on goal 1:41 into the second period, but Dempsey made the stop. Brandeis also had four corner kicks in OT, but were unable to convert. Keene had the edge in the final 15 minutes, outshooting Brandeis 4-3, finishing with a 23-10 advantage for the game.

In the penalty kicks, Keene State went first and hit the post, but Dempsey responded by making a diving save to keep the ledger clear. Owl sophomore Tara Nathan (Bethel, Conn.) connected on her next attempt, but the Judges missed their second try, hitting the crossbar. The next four players all connected, giving Keene State a 3-2 lead. Owl sophomore Samantha Jo Saltalamaccia (Sandown, N.H.) connected on their fourth PK, giving the visitors the insurmountable 4-2 lead and their first ECAC title since 2005.

For Keene State, Dempsey finished with five saves and 12 for the tournament. With her third shutout in a row, she finished with nine for the season. For Brandeis, Rosenzweig made nine stops, one short of her season-best, while her seventh shutout on the season gives her a school-record 22 for her career.

Courtesy Brandeis Sports Information