Worcester, MA 9/24/08--- Junior midfielder Scott Cluff (Kingston, MA) scored the game-winning goal on a penalty shot in overtime to lift visiting Keene State to a 1-0 victory over Worcester State in non-conference men's soccer action on Wednesday evening. The goal, scored in the 96th minute, broke a scoreless tie and capped off a second half that saw the Owls hold a 22-3 edge in shots.

Taking the penalty kick after senior forward Alex Horne (Harvard, Mass.) was taken down in the box, Cluff stepped up and buried the shot past WSC sophomore goalie Daniel Hanson (Worcester, Mass.) for his fourth goal of the season.

"We needed this one," said KSC Coach Ron Butcher, whose Owls have been held scoreless in their last two games.  "We tried a new line-up with different guys in different positions and everybody responded."

With the win, Keene State improves their record to 3-3-2 while the Lancers fall to 4-2-2.

The two teams battled to a scoreless first half with the Owls holding a slight 11-7 advantage in shots.

The Owls' offense came alive in the second half with a flurry of attempts to break the stalemate. Horne and sophomore midfielder Matt Johnson (Walpole, N.H.) had the bulk of the chances, ending the stanza with eight and seven shots respectively. Several of Horne's shots were point-blank attempts stopped by Hansen.

Worcester State had a golden opportunity to score the go-ahead goal in the 76th minute when senior forward Brian Andrade (Hudson, MA) appeared to have scored, but the Lancers were called for offsides,  nullifying the goal.

Hansen was outstanding between the pipes. stopping nine of the 11 shots he faced while his counterpart, junior Peter Kersker(Beverly, MA), making four saves to post his second shutout of the season.

The Lancers are coached by former Owl Christian Battaglia.

Both teams will play conference opponents on Saturday. Worcester State will host MCLA at 6 p.m. while Keene State travles to in-state rival Plymouth State for a 4:30 game.