NORTH DARTMOUTH, MASS.  - Keene State College ended the six year reign of Bentley College by capturing the 2008 Women's New England Intercollegiate Swimming and Diving Championships (NEISDA) at UMass-Darmouth's Tripp Center pool on Sunday.

The Owls tallied 982 points in the three-day meet to defeat Bentley (900 points). Bryant College was third (748 points) in the 21-team field. It's the second New England Championship for KSC which also won the title in 2001.

"I'm overjoyed" said KSC second-year coach Dr. Jack Fabian, who was named NEISDA swimming coach of the year. "Their performances exceeded my expectations. Everyone scored a point. It was a team effort."

"We were pumped from the beginning and just got on a roll, said sophomore Jackie Foster (Bedford, N.H.), who set three pool marks and four KSC records. "It was a sweet win beating Bentley because we lost a close meet to them (157-143) earlier this season."

"One of our goals at the start of the season was to win the New Englands," said senior Kelly Yankowski (Turner Falls, Mass.). "We wanted to be the first team to touch the wall in every race."

Keene State won four events in the final day of competition. Foster, won the 1,650 free in a pool and school record time of 17:48.19.

Sophomore Kristine Trutor (Holden, Mass.) won the 50 back (28.05), and Yankowski won the 100 I.M. improving her school record time (1:01.92). Freshman Rachel Mondello (Stoneham, Mass.) joined Foster, Yankowski, and Trutor to set a pool and school mark with their first place finish in the 400 free relay (3:37.38).

Keene State won the meet was talent and depth. In addition to posting first place finishes, the Owls also picked up valuable points by having swimmers qualifying for the finals and finishing among the top-six in many races. Freshmen Alison Valenti (Cheshire, Conn.) and Jessica Laidley (Brockton, Mass.) were third (18:33.62) and fifth (18:39.22) respectively in 1,650 free.

Mondello took second in the 100 free with a school record time of 53.91. Yankowski was third (54.13) and senior Kelly Widman (Middlebury, Conn.) took sixth (57.49) in the race.

Sophomore Alea Paddock (Newbury, N.H.) was second in the 200 breast with a school mark of 2:28.56. Junior Katie Allenson (Clifton Park, N.Y.) and Widman were also third (1:05.55) and fourth (1:05.57) respectively in the 100 I.M. race.

The Owls also received key points in the three-meter diving event with sophomore Chelsea Peruccio (Glastonbury, Conn.) placing fourth and breaking her own record with 329.30 points.

Keene State combined to win 10 races, set 14 school records, and establish five pool marks, and garner 46 All-New England honors. Trutor and Mondello led the All-New England honors parade with seven each.

The post-season will continue for the Owls. In addition to qualifying numerous athletes for the ECAC Open championship at the University of Pittsburgh (Feb. 28-March 2), Keene State could be sending its first women swimmers to the NCAA Division III Championships at the University of Miami-Ohio (March 13-15). Mondello, in the 50 free, Trutor in the 100 backstroke, and Foster in the 200 free have posted NCAA provisional qualifying marks in their respective events.

"Everyone put in the effort and the hard work," said Mondello. "I don't think anyone will mind that we have to give up part of our spring break to go to nationals."