'NORTH ADAMS, MASS.  9/17/03 - Senior Justin Hickman (Mont Vernon, N.H.) had a goal and two assists, including the game-winner with 18 minutes to play, to lead the Keene State College men's soccer team to a 4-2 non-conference victory over Mass College of Liberal Arts in North Adams, Mass. on Wednesday.

KSC took a 2-0 half-time lead on goals by Casey Banks (Westborough, Mass.) and John Cortese (Wilbraham, Mass.). Banks finished off a through ball from Hickman for his fourth goal of the season and Cortese picked up a lose ball and fired it into the top right corner. Cortese, who missed the most of last season with an injury, scored his first goal since the 2001 season.

MCLA came back to tie the game on a couple of quick goals early in the second half by Chris Whalen (Belchertown, Mass.) and Tom Hevey (Chicopee, Mass.).

Hickman game the Owls the lead for good when he toed in a shot following a flurry in front of the MCLA net.  Hickman then set up an insurance goal four minutes later when he sent Lombardo in for a goal.

However, it was a costly victory for KSC.  Starting defender Steve Curry (Lyme, Conn.) could be lost for the season with an ankle injury.  Mike Lewis (Manchester, Conn.) and Derek LeClerc (Berlin, N.H.) also suffered injuries in the game.

Brandon Beck (Johnstown, N.Y.) had one save for KSC while Mike Dennis (Templeton, Mass.) stopped four shots for MCLA.

KSC travels to UMass-Boston for its first LEC game of the season on Saturday (1 p.m.).