KEENE, N.H.  – Sophomore midfielder Erin Dallas (Marlow, N.H.) scored two goals, including the game winner at the 9:02 mark of the first overtime to lead top-seeded Keene State College to a 2-1 victory over second-seeded University of Southern Maine in the championship game of the 2007 Little East Conference tournament played at Owl Athletic Complex on Saturday.

It was the sixth overall and fourth consecutive LEC championship for Keene State (18-5), which also won conference titles in 1998 and 1999. With the win, KSC receives the conferences’ automatic bid to the NCAA Division III tournament.

Southern Maine (15-7) was making its second appearance in the LEC finals. They defeated KSC 3-1 in the 2003 championship game.

Dallas’ game-winner came during the first seven-on- seven overtime period. Sophomore forward Karen Robinson (Phillipston, Mass.) sent a crossing ball over to Dallas who dove and tipped the ball past Husky goalie Allie Hill (Cape Elizabeth, Maine).

“I didn’t see Erin, but Marrissa (Boccaccio) told me to pass the ball across,” said Robinson. “So I turned and hit it over.”

“I knew I had to dive to get to the ball,” said Dallas, who was named the most outstanding player of the tournament. “Luckily, I was able to get a stick on it.”

“Dallas is usually our set-up person, “said KSC Coach Amy Watson. “Today, she switched roles and did a great job knocking in both goals.” Dallas’s two goals give her 13 on the season.

Keene State had to battle back from a 1-0 deficit. KSC was unable to cash in on numerous scoring opportunities a scoreless first half.

Southern Maine took advantage of its few scoring opportunities to take a 1-0 lead at the 6:20 mark of the second half. Senior midfielder Alyson Lumino (Hampden, Maine) sent a cross over to sophomore forward India Lowe (Gloucester, Mass.), who standing on the right corner, put a short-range shot past Owl goalie Vikki Stoessel (Derry, N.H.).

Following the goal, Watson called a time out. “She told us that this was our field and we needed to step it up if we wanted to win,” said Robinson.

KSC finally got on the board on a penalty stroke goal at the 24:32 mark. The Owls were awarded the stroke after a USM player got her body on a shot headed into the goal. Dallas knotted the score with the shot to the far corner of the net.

In the overtime, Lowe also got her second goal of the game, but her shot went just wide of the post. Hill kept the Owls off the board with a couple of saves off the sticks of Boccaccio and Dallas.

Keeping the pressure on the Huskies in the later stages of overtime, KSC was able to get the game-winner.

“We expected a tough game from Southern Maine and we got it,” said Watson. “It was a very frustrating game because we missed so many chances especially in the first half. But this team never gives up and they demonstrated that again today.”

Stoessel finished with five saves for KSC. Hill stopped seven shots for the Huskies. KSC had an advantage in shots 19-8 and penalty corners 15-3.

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