SPRINGFIELD, Mass., 9/8/04 - The Keene State College men's soccer team suffered its first loss of the season to Springfield College, 2-1, in a non-conference game on Wednesday at Brock Affleck Field in Springfield, Mass.

Keene State, who had not loss to SC since the 1998 season, is now 2-1. This is SC's best start since the 1989 campaign, when the Pride also started 2-0.

"Our inability to score goals inside the six, cost us our first loss of the season," said head coach Ron Butcher. "We have to get back to work and improve on some areas before Saturday's game against Wheaton."

Sophomore forward Matt Aucoin (Canton, Mass.) scored the game-winner for the second-consecutive match for the Pride.

Aucoin, who registered the lone tally in Saturday's 1-0 double overtime win over Westfield State, scored the decisive goal off a feed from freshman forward Colin Cook (Wilbraham, Mass.) in the 64th minute to give SC a 2-0 lead. The Pride recorded the lone goal of the first half when freshman midfielder Pete Bianco (Patchogue, N.Y.) scored in the 32nd minute.

Trailing 2-0, the Owls closed the gap to one goal when sophomore midfielder Eric Scott(West Springfield, Mass.) scored off an assist from sophomore midfielder Derrick Amaio (Wethersfield, Conn.) in the 66th minute.

KSC goalie Brandon Beck (Johnstown, NY) stopped four shots, while SC senior keeper David Minkoff (Oceanside, N.Y.) made seven saves to pick up his first win of the '04 campaign.

The Owls hosts Wheaton College on Saturday (1 p.m.).