Eastern Connecticut State University

Amy J. Keane Steed was a vital member of the intercollegiate women’s soccer program in its inaugural season and was also a starter on the first post-season tournament team in program history in 1988. Among the first three four-year letterwinners in program history, the 5-foot-2 inch sweeperback was voted team Defensive MVP in each of her four seasons at Eastern under her former high school coach and E-Club Hall of Famer Beth Regan ’79. Having found a large measure of success in high school under Regan at Tolland, Keane was looked upon as a mentor, leader and role model by her college teammates, many of whom offered the program limited high school experience. Keane started 52 of a possible 55 matches in her career and was a member of the first (ECAC) post-season tournament team in 1988 and first NCAA Division III post-season tournament team the following year. A native of Tolland, Keane also served as a team captain as a junior and senior. Despite being a newly-minted program, Eastern never experienced a losing season during Keane’s career. The Warriors won 35, lost 17 and tied 3 (66.4 winning percentage) and were ranked among the national Top 20 ten times and appeared in the New England poll 15 times. Eastern defeated the University of Bridgeport, 5-2, in its inaugural match Sept. 17, 1986, and lost a 2-0 decision to William Smith College in the opening round of the 1989 NCAA Division III tournament at the old Alumni Field in the final match of Keane’s career. In Keene’s junior season, Eastern compiled a 13-4-0 record and qualified for its first tournament -- the ECAC New England Division III tournament. In October of the following year, Keane was part of the seminal moment in program history when, on the road, the Warriors stunned No. 3 nationally-ranked Plymouth State (1-0), the top-ranked team in New England.