'BABSON PARK, Mass. -- Junior midfielder Ralph Rocco (Groton, Mass.) scored the game-winning goal with 2:38 left in the first overtime to lift visiting Keene State College to a thrilling 2-1 victory over Babson College in a matchup between two of New England's best men's soccer teams on Wednesday afternoon. The Owls, ranked second in the region and 20th in the nation, improved to 6-1-0 with the win, while Babson, ranked sixth in New England, suffered its first loss to fall to 4-1-2.

Keene State grabbed a 1-0 lead with just over minutes left in the first half, as first-year Jeremy Kelsey (Gilford, N.H.) gained control of a loose ball in the midfield and ripped a shot into the upper right corner from 25 yards out. The Owls held the one-goal advantage until the 74th minute, when Babson sophomore forward Tim Winn (Sutton, Mass.) redirected a cross from junior Chris Schwartz (Guilford, Conn.) into the lower left corner to tie the contest at 1-1.

Babson had the first scoring chance of overtime, when Winn got behind the defense and maneuvered past sophomore goalie Peter Kersker (Beverly, Mass.). However, Winn's shot attempt was blocked at the goal line by sophomore back Ryan Farnsworth (Merrimack, N.H.), and the Owls' defense successfully cleared the rebound.

Keene State capitalized on its first chance of overtime, as a Babson foul gave the Owls' a free kick from near the left sideline. The Beavers' defense successfully deflected the resulting cross, but the carom went directly to Rocco, who took one touch and then buried the game-winning goal into the upper right corner from 25 yards out.

Kersker was outstanding in net for Keene State, finishing with six saves, including a game-saving stop on a shot by Babson first-year Dan Fogarty (Brookline, N.H.) with 15 seconds remaining in regulation. Junior Chris Necklas (Guilford, Conn.) also played well in defeat, stopping three shots.

(Courtesy Babson Sports Information)