'DANBURY, CT 9/17/06- Sophomore forward Pelse Mesa (Manchester, NH) scored two second-half goals as Keene State College opened its Little East Conference slate with a 3-0 victory over host Western Connecticut State University at Westside Athletic Complex Sunday afternoon.

The Owls, 5-1 overall, took a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute when Alex Horne (Harvard, MA) collected a loose ball that eluded Colonials keeper Dan Michalowski (Bristol, CT) at the top of the box. Two steps later, Horne deposited the ball in the open goal.

Mesa scored his first and second goals of the season off feeds from Ryan Farnsworth (Merrimack, NH) and Horne in the 48th and 62nd minutes, respectively.

The Owls out shot WestConn, 25-9 on the afternoon, including 14 shots in the first 11 minutes of action.

Cal Mintz (Westport, CT) made three saves for the Owls while Michalowski turned away seven shots for the Colonials.

Keene State is at Babson on Wednesday (4 p.m.). WestConn, the defending Little East Conference Champions, drop to 2-3-1 on the season. It travels to Trinity College on Wednesday, September 20 for a non-league contest at 4:30 p.m.