KEENE, N.H  3/15/13  - (KSC Sports Information) The Connecticut College women's lacrosse team broke open a close game with four unanswered goals in the second half to hand Keene State College a 8-5 non-conference loss at chilly  Owl Athletic Complex on Friday afternoon.

The Owls (1-4), who have dropped their last three games, experienced a drastic change in playing conditions since their last game.  Playing in 70 degree temperatures two days ago in Florida, KSC took the field against the Camels with temperatures hovering around the 35 degree mark.

Sophomore Taylor Thomas (Needham, Mass.) had three goals and junior Lowell Abbott (Manchester, Mass.) netted a pair for Connecticut College (1-2), which picked up its first win of the season.

Senior Bri Miller (Sudbury, Mass.) reached a career-milestone in the second half, tallying the 100th point of her career. Miller had a goal and two assists in the win and has amassed 76 goals and 24 assists in her prolific playing career.

Senior Lauren Brown (Agawam, Mass.) had two goals to lead the Owls. Juniors Julie Trombetta (Trumbull, Conn.) and Eliza Wetherbee (Newburyport, Mass.) and sophomore Christa Demovellan (Westwood, Mass.) also found the back of the net for Keene State. Brown tops the Owls with 11 goals so far this season.

The Camels scored the first three goals of the game.  After a slow start, KSC scored the final two goals of the half.  Brown made it a 3-2 game when she scored with just six second to go before halftime.

After Connecticut College scored in the first minute of the second half, the Owls charged back, scoring the next three goals and taking a 5-4 lead on Demovellan's third goal of the season.

KSC junior goalie Erin Taylor (Brewster, N.Y.), who stopped six shots, made a key cross the body  save against Thomas, temporally holding on to the lead for the Owls.

Thomas eventually tied the game and sophomore Meag Irvine (Westwood, Mass.) netted the go-ahead goal a minute later, putting Connecticut College up 6-5. Abbot and Miller (Sudbury, Mass.) added insurance goals for the Camels. 

Until the uprising, the KSC defense was holding its own.  "I think we worked really hard. It was good to finally see us working well after a couple of tough games in Florida," said junior defender Morgan Markley (Center Harbor, N.H.).  "It was great knowing we were up at one point.  I wish we could have held onto the lead. I feel so much more confident going into our conference games."

Junior Caitlin Cataldo (Orange, Conn.) finished the game with four saves for Conn. College, who were facing the Owls for the first time.

Keene State hosts the University of New England on March 19. The Camels visit Middlebury Saturday for a noontime NESCAC match up in the Green Mountain State.