KEENE, N.H. 11/10/07 - Junior forward Alex Horne (Harvard, Mass.) had two goals and an assist to lead the Keene State College men's soccer team to a 6-0 victory over York College of New York in a first-round game of the NCAA Division III tournament in Keene on Saturday

Keene State (15-4-5) will play the Williams College in a second-round game at Owls Athletic Complex on Sunday (1 p.m.). Williams (11-4-2) moved on with a  2-0 first-round win over Eastern Conn. KSC defeated the Ephs 1-0 during the regular season.  Williams has posted second-round wins over the Owls (2-0, 2005; 4-0 2006) the past two years.

The six goals are the most scored by the Owls in a Division III NCAA tournament game.  Keene State, making its ninth trip to the NCAAs in the last 11 years, defeated Roger Williams 5-2 in a first-round game in 1999.

Keene State erupted for four first half goals.  "We didn't know much about them, so we just came out and played our game," said Horne.

"We took care of business early and that's what we had to do," said KSC Coach Ron Butcher.  "Tomorrow game against Williams will be another war."

Keene State had a chance to get on the board 10 minutes into the first half.  Sophomore midfielder's Ben Allenet (Lanfains, France) drive from 22-yards out was tipped over the net by York goalie Kafui Kouakou (Togo).

The Owls took a 1-0 lead at the 16:27 mark when senior back Shawn Booth (Windsor Locks, Conn.) came up and put in a rebound of Ross Stanton's (Glenmont, N.Y.) shot.

KSC scored two more goals within a three minutes span to go up 3-0.  Horne,sent in sophomore forward Mike Cooley (Northborough, Mass.), beat Kouakou for his eighth goal of the season.  A couple of minutes later, Stanton was on the receiving end of a lead pass from Caleb Patterson (Barrington, N.H.) Stanton broke in from the right side and netted his third goal of the season.

Horne extended KSC's lead to 4-0 when he put his own rebound past Kouakou at the 26:47 mark.

Cooley, who was tripped inside the box, had an opportunity to get his second goal of the game a couple of minutes into the second half, but his penalty kick hit off the post.

Horne broke in alone at the 48:15 mark and netted his second of the game and 10th of the season to make it 5-0.   Phil Petrozzi (Gilford, N.H.) completed the scoring at the 55:49 mark when he put a cross by Cooley into the net for his first goal of the season.  Kouakou appeared to make the save, but the officials ruled the ball went over the goal line.  

York (14-6-1), playing in its third NCAA game didn't have a shot on goal.  Both KSC goalies Cal Mintz (Westport, Conn.) and Scott Panone (Wolcott, Conn.) weren't credited with saves.  Kouakou had 15 saves and Marcin Kasza (Poland) had one save for the Cardinals.  

"It was a tough game," said York Coach Linval Cunningham.  "I'm proud of the way our team played. We had a great season."

Williams Advances with a 2-0 Win Over Eastern Conn.

KEENE, N.H. 11/10/07 - Williams College scored a goal in each half on the way to posting a 2-0 victory over Eastern Connecticut State University in a first-round game of the NCAA Division III men's soccer tournament at Keene State College's Owl Athletic Complex on Saturday.

Williams (11-4-2) and Keene State College (12-4-5), both at-large teams to the tournament, will face each other in a second-round game on Sunday (1 p.m.). KSC edged the Ephs 1-0 during the regular season.  Williams defeated the Owls the past two seasons in the second round of the tournament.   

"A times we played well and other times we were sloppy," said Williams Coach Mike Russo.  "Eastern is a very good team.  They had a couple of weapons Justin Millette and Maxim Fantl.  Overall, I  was pleased getting a 2-0 victory and going on to play Keene tomorrow. 
"Keene beat us 1-0 earlier, so we're looking for a little revenge. It should be a great game tomorrow."  

Senior back Mike Darling (Charlton, Mass.) gave Williams a 1-0 lead at the nine minute mark when he took a pass from sophomore midfielder Conor Smith (Yardley, Pa.) and beat ECSU goalie Jay Barney (Mansfield, Conn.) with a shot just inside the far post.

Eastern Conn. (11-7-3), making  its first trip to the NCAA tournament after capturing the Little East championship in penalty kicks (3-2) over Keene State, had several opportunities to tied the game later in the half.

Freshman forward Justin Millette (Central Village, Conn.) had two consecutive close range shots stopped by Eph's sophomore goalie Andrew Graham (Northbrook, Ill.). 
 

Freshman forward Gaston Kelly (Hingham, Mass.) made a bid to add to Williams' lead, but his shot hit off the crossbar. 

The Warriors had another chance to knot the score in the closing minutes of the first half.  A header by sophomore midfielder Sean Capezzone (Colchester, Conn.) went just missed the post.

Williams took a 2-0 lead at the 62:21 mark of the second half.  Heading down field on a counter attack, Darling sent a through ball up to senior back Ryan Pelletier (York, Me.) who scored his fourth goal of the season. 

Graham finished with six saves to notch the shutout for the Ephs.  Barney was credited with four saves for the Warriors.