'BABSON PARK, MA 10/9/02 - Jason Lombardo's (Woburn, MA.) goal at the 60:15 mark of the second half enabled Keene State College to tie Babson College 1-1 in a non-conference men's soccer game played Wednesday at Babson.

Lombardo stole the ball from a defender, dribbled in and beat Beaver goalie Tom Malloy to the far top corner.  It was the team-leading eighth goal of the season for the sophomore striker.

Despite controlling play throughout the first half, KSC found itself facing a 1-0 deficit.  In one of its few breaks out of its zone, Babson capitalized when Mark Abraham finished off a crossing ball from Jonah Fritz.

The second half and overtime periods were played in the Babson side of the field, but KSC could not come up with the game-winner.

"They were packed in the box and we just couldn't put together the right combination," said KSC Coach Ron Butcher.  "We played hard and should've won the game, but its just not happening for us right now."

It was the second straight tie for KSC (7-4-2) while Babson goes to 6-3-3.

Owl goalie D.J. Nordmark (South Windsor, CT) finished with three saves.  He made the save of the game with 8:20 to play in the half, falling to the ground to stop a point-blank shot from Abrhaham.  Tom Malloy stopped four KSC shots.

KSC travels to rival Plymouth State on Saturday (1 p.m.).