Keene State rolls over UMass Dartmouth 15-2 in LEC semifinals

(Dartmouth, MA) – Greg Gonzalez scored six goals and Eric Momnie added four more as Keene State College rolled over UMass Dartmouth, 15-2, in a Little East Conference men’s lacrosse semifinal round game played Thursday afternoon at Cressy Field.

The victory moves Keene State College (10-5 overall) into the Little East Conference Tournament championship game to be played this Saturday at top-seeded Eastern Connecticut State University, a 23-8 semifinal winner over #4 Plymouth State University. The winner of the LEC Tournament championship game earns an automatic berth into the NCAA Division III national tournament.

Keene State College made quick work of the Corsairs (7-6 overall), jumping out to a 3-0 lead after the first period on goals by Travis Pedley, Momnie and Gonazalez.  UMass Dartmouth’s Jeff Long scored the first goal of the second quarter to cut the Owls’ lead to 3-1 before Keene State responded with three unanswered goals for a 6-1 margin at intermission. Momnie had three goals and an assist in the first half.

The Owls extended their lead to 11-1 after three periods as Joe Branciforte led Keene State with a pair of goals and two assists in the quarter.  Gonzalez also netted a pair of goals in the quaterter.

Owl goalie Eric Delisle came up with 15 saves in goal for the victory, while UMass Dartmouth goalie Jason Doyle had a busy afternoon, making 27 saves.  Keene State College outshot UMass Dartmouth, 42-17.