Box Score

KEENE, N.H. -- Junior forward Katie Bradford (Lebanon, N.H.) recorded a goal and two assists as second-seeded Keene State College shutout the University of New England, 4-0, in an Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III New England Women's Soccer Championship semifinal match Saturday afternoon in the rain and mud.

The Owls (16-6-2) advance to Sunday's Championship game to face No. 1 Brandeis University, which played to a 3-3 tie with fourth seed Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. In penalty kicks, the Judges converted on three of their four attempts while the Trailblazers made just one. The final will take place in Waltham, Mass. beginning at noon.

Junior Nora Mahoney (Belchertown, Mass.) put Keene State in front less than 17 minutes into the contest, collecting a lead pass from sophomore Kim Kasprak (Sutton, Mass.) and slipping it past the keeper.

Bradford set up first-year Joan Hamel (Weare, N.H.) in the 35th minute to give the hosts a 2-0 lead -- one that they took into the break. The roles were reversed 3:42 into the second period when Hamel fed Bradford for her 18th goal of the season, increasing the margin to three.

Sophomore Sia Karmoutopoulos (Fremont, N.H.) capped the scoring in the 54th minute, scoring off a cross from Bradford.

Making five saves for the Owls was sophomore Meghan Dempsey (East Weymouth, Mass.), as Keene State erased the memory of last year's 2-1 overtime loss to UNE in the ECAC semifinals.

The Nor'easters (15-4), who were held scoreless for the first time all season, received three saves from senior Leigh Engel (Richmondville, N.Y.) in 76 minutes of action.