'NORTH ADAMS, MASS. 09/14/05 - The countdown to Coach Ron Butcher's 500th career victory is down to one after Keene State blanked Mass College of Liberal Arts 6-0 in a men's soccer non-conference game played Wednesday afternoon in North Adams, Mass.

The victory pushed Butcher's all-time record to 499-199-56.  Butcher, in his 35th season at KSC, will be shooting for his 500th milestone win on Saturday (1 p.m.) when the Owls host Western Conn. in their first Little East contest of the season.  With a win on Saturday, Butcher will become just the sixth men's collegiate soccer coach to reach the 500 win plateau.

Win number 499 came rather easy for Coach Butcher and the Owls.  Six different players scored in the shutout win.  Mike Cooley (West Springfield, Mass.) and Ralph Rocco (Groton, Mass.) netted first half goals for KSC.  It was Cooley's fourth goal of the season.

Alex Horne (Harvard, Mass.), Conor Kelley (Braintree, Mass.), Mark Ambrose (Londonderry, N.H.), and George Delano (Kingston, N.H.) found the back of the net in the second half.  It was the first college goals for freshmen players Kelley and Delano.

The Owls (5-0), who remain undefeated, outshot the Trailblazers 16-1.

Matt Caron (Amston, Conn.) with one save and Scott Pannone (Wolcott, Conn) both saw action in goal for KSC. Zach Natale (eight saves) and Mike Giovine (two saves) were the MCLA goaltenders.  MCLA falls to 1-3-1.

Keene State has won all six games against MCLA since moving to Division III in 1997.