NASHUA, N.H. 8/31/2002 - On the way to earning Little East Conference Rookie of the Year honors last season Jason Lombardo led the Owls with seven game-winning goals. Now a sophomore the fleet forward from Woburn, Mass, picked right up where he left off last season, scoring the lone goal in Keene State College's season opening 1-0 victory on the road at Rivier College on Saturday night.

College a through ball from Luke Trill (Northfield, MA.), Lombardo walked in on Raider goalie John Whitney and beat him with a shot to the far corner at the 34:11 mark of the first half.

Lombardo and Casey Banks, the other half of KSC's dynamic duo from last season had strong scoring opportunities in the second half, but were turned away by Whitney who finished with six saves for Rivier.

"It was your typical first game of the season," said KSC Coach Ron Butcher. "We held territorial advantage for a good portion of the game, but just couldn't find the back of the net. We played in spurts, at times looking good, other times it looked like the faucet had been turned off."  Butcher did compliment the play of defenders Steve Curry (East Lyme, Conn.) and freshman Erik Halsey of Francestown, N.H.  "I think we answered some of the questions we had in the backfield," said Butcher, starting his 33rd season on the Owls' bench.

D.J. Nordmark needed just one save to notch his first shutout of the season and 11th of his career. KSC outshot the Raiders 14-4.

It was the first game for Rivier coach Jim Simoneau. The Owls return to play on Saturday when they host the Diadora Soccer Showdown at Owl Stadium Complex. The tournament includes Wheaton, Hobart and Rowan (NJ) University.