'Gorham, Me. 9/24/05 - Freshman forward Mike Cooley (Northborough, Mass.) scored a pair of goals to lead the nationally ranked Keene State College Owls to a 4-0 victory over the University of Southern Maine Huskies in a Little East Conference men's soccer match Saturday afternoon at the USM Soccer Field.

The win was the eighth straight for the undefeated Owls who improve to a perfect 8-0-0 on the season and 2-0-0 in the conference.  Southern Maine, winless in its last six matches, falls to 1-5-1 overall and 0-2-0 in the conference.

Cooley put the visitors on top in the 26th minute when a loose ball came to him through a maze of players in the box and he banged a shot past USM junior goalie Chris Willard (Hampton, Conn./Parish Hill).  The Owls would have the better run of play throughout the first half, out-shooting the Huskies 13-3.

Southern Maine had its best chances in the opening minutes of the second half.  Junior Adam Bial (Wenham, Mass./Hamilton-Wenham) slipped a shot by KSC sophomore keeper Cal Mintz (Westport, Conn.) that went just wide, and freshman Sinisa Bajic (Portland, Maine) hit the post.

Keene State doubled its lead in the 69th minute junior Eric Scott (West Springfield, Mass.) converted a penalty kick for his team-leading 10th goal of the season.

Sophomore Pelse Mesa (Manchester, N.H.) converted a pass from sophomore Collin Bailey (Jeffersonville, Vt.) in the 81st minute to make it 3-0, and Cooley netted his second goal of the match in the 82nd minute to close out the scoring.He has eight goals this season.

Mintz was credited with three saves in the match for Keene State. He now has four shutouts this season. Willard finished the day making five saves.  Keene State would have a 23-7 edge in shots and a 7-4 advantage in corners.

Keene State will travel to Williams College on Wednesday (September 28) for its next match.  Southern Maine returns to action on Wednesday traveling to Colby College.