KEENE, N.H. 9/19/01 - Second half goals by Casey Banks, John Harke and Francisco Vasconcelos and the strong play of goalie D.J. Nordmark lifted Keene State College to a 3-0 shutout victory over Westfield State in a men's soccer game played Wednesday in Keene.

KSC improves to 4-2 on the season. Westfield State falls to 1-4.

Both teams had chances to get on the board in a scoreless first half. Nordmark (So. Windsor, CT) made a diving stop off a shot by Garrett O'Connell (Rochester, MA.) minutes into the game. And WSC goalie D.J. Conway (Springfield, MA.), who finished with five stops, saved a penalty kick by KSC's Mike Monteiro (Hudson, MA.) with just under four minutes to play in the half.

A key stop by Nordmark who robbed Joe Calabrese (W. Springfield, MA.) from close range ignited the Owls' offense. 'I haven't had many games where I've been tested,' said Nordmark. who finished with six saves for his third shutout of the season. 'But I felt real good in the net tonight, and my teammates were able to counter-attack.' A minute after the save, Banks (Westbourgh, MA.) tipped the ball into the left corner of the net to give KSC a 1-0 lead. It was his team-leading fourth goal of the season.

Harke, who assisted on Banks goal, gave KSC a 2-0 lead when his bad angle shot at the crease hit off the far post into the net. It was the first collegiate goal for the freshman from Leeds, MA., who was making his first start. Vasconcelos completed the scoring with a goal, a blast for 12-yards out, in the closing minutes of play. 'We played their game in the first half and then settled down,' said KSC Coach Ron Butcher. 'Some players, who haven't gotten a chance to play, came through with big efforts.'

Keene State will host Western CT in it first LEC game of the season in a homecoming contest (1 p.m.) on Saturday.