'KEENE, N.H. 10/1/05 - Pelse Mesa's (Manchester, N.H.) goal late in the first half stood up as the game-winner as Keene State held off rival Plymouth State University 1-0 in Little East Conference men's soccer action before a Homecoming crowd in Keene on Saturday. 

Ranked seventh nationally and first in the region, Keene State improves to 9-1 and 3-0 in the LEC. Plymouth State (7-1-1, 2-1 LEC) suffered its first loss of the season.

The only goal of the match came with five minutes to play in the first half. Noah Hertzler got the ball free and fed Pelse Mesa (Manchester, N.H.) who put the a shot past several Panthers defenders and goalie Tyler Shute (Deerfield, N.H.). It was Mesa's third goal of the season.  "Noah deserves a lot of credit got he battled to get me the ball,

 said Mesa.  "I just tried to put a good shot on net. It's great to score goals in big games like this."

The Panthers had a chance to take an early lead in the game when Takeru Tanikawa broke in alone, but his shot hit off the cross bar.

KSC's best opportunity came later in the half when Conor Kelly (Braintree, Mass.) hit the far post off a direct kick.

In the second half, KSC goalie Cal Mintz (Westport, Conn.) preserved the Owls' lead when he stopped a close range shot from Dustin Moya (Thornton, Co.).  A minute later Ralph Rocco (Groton, Mass.) sent Alex Horne (Harvard, Mass.) away, but his bid was stopped by Shute.  

"Anytime you win a conference game, it's a big win," said KSC Coach Ron Butcher. "It wasn't a pretty game.  The Williams game took a lot out of us, but I'm happy to get the win. We had one great chance and put it a way."  

Mintz finished with six saves to notch his fourth shutout of the season.  Shute stopped seven Owl shots. 

Keene State hosts Babson on Wednesday (6:30 p.m.). PSU is home against Colby-Sawyer on Wednesday (7 p.m.)