KEENE, N.H. 10/10/09 - The Keene State men's soccer team suffered its first Little East Conference loss of the season, falling to UMass-Dartmouth 1-0 at Owl Athletic Complex on Saturday.

Sophomore Kyle Lopez (Somerset, Mass.) scored the only goal of the game at the 6:56 mark of the first half.  Lopez pounced on a loose ball at the top of the circle and drove a left-footed shot past KSC senior goalie Peter Kersker (Ipswich, Mass.).

Minutes later, Junior Jason Couto (Somerset, Mass.) had a chance to extend UMD's lead, but his free kick from 45-yards out was tipped over the cross bar by Kersker.

UMD packed it in the second half, giving the Owls few quality scoring opportunities.   Freshman Shawn Shand went around the left corner for a baseline bid that was denied by UMD freshman goalie Kellen Rauch (Ashland, Mass.), who did a nice job of coming off his line all game. 

Couto had an opportunity to get his second goal of the game later in the half. His closed range shot slipped just wide of the post.

The Owls pressured the Corsairs' net in an attempt to get the equalizer, but Rauch was up to the task, stopping a head-on drive by sophomore Jon Fothergill (Merrimack, N.H.)  and a skidding shot off the foot of senior Mike Vitone (East Greenwich, R.I.).      

The chippy game featured four yellow cards with several huddles between players and officials.

"The bottom line is we didn't come out to play," said KSC Coach Ron Butcher.  "We didn't play smart soccer today."

Kersker finished the game with three saves for the Owls, who drop to 7-5 (3-1 LEC).  Rauch stopped four Owl shots to improve his record to 4-0 and notch his first college shutout.

Keene State travels to RPI for a non-conference game on Wednesday. The Corsairs (8-2, 2-1 LEC) play at Tufts on Tuesday.