KEENE, N.H. 10/25/09 - The Keene State men's soccer team held  senior day on Sunday, but it play of the freshmen that lifted the Owls to a 3-0 Little East Conference victory over Western Conn. State University.

Three freshmen accounted for the KSC scoring.  Joe Senecal (Manchaug, Mass.) netted a pair, Shawn Shand (Keene, N.H.) had a goal and an assist, and Bobby Saraf (Canton, Mass.) dished out two assists in the victory.

"It's all about hard work," said Shand.  He's trying to get me and Joey to play together as strikers and stop worrying about stats." 

Taking another step closer to clinching its first LEC regular season championship since 2005, Keene State improves to 11-6 (5-1 LEC. Western Conn. falls to 4-11 and 1-5 in conference play.

The Owls did all their damage in the second half.   "You can chalk this one up to Assistant Coach Kevin Chevalier," said KSC Coach Ron Butcher.  "At halftime he came up with a new style and we picked them apart in the second half."

The duo of Shand and Senecal combined to get the Owls on the board at the 70:59 mark.  On a nice individual effort, Shand fought off a Colonial defender, sending  a cross to Senecal who buried the ball into the net. 

Two minutes later, Saraf sent Senecal down the right side. Senecal raced into the box and put the ball into the far corner for his second goal of the game and team-leading 10th of the season.  "I had one player on my back and so I couldn't hold it any longer and tucked it into the far left post." said Senecal.

Shand completed the scoring on a breakaway goal with just under 10 minutes to play.  Sent in alone by Saraf, Shand took a couple of dribbles and drove the ball past WC freshman goalie Angelo Tingeriliotis (Norwalk, Conn.) for his ninth goal of the season.  "I had a nice lead pass and a great finish," said Shand.  "You have to put those away when you get the chance."

There were just a few good scoring opportunities in a scoreless first half.  Several KSC bids were negated by offside.  The best chance came by Saraf in the closing minutes of the first half. The freshman corralled a loose ball just inside the box and let go a drive that was handled by Tsingerliotis, who finished the game with seven saves.

In the opening minutes of the second half, Western junior Daniel DaSilva (Danbury, Conn.) unleashed a shot that just missed the far post.

KSC junior goalie Tom Conran (South Windsor, Conn.), who made three saves in the game, has registered four shutouts in four starts. 

Prior to the start of the game, Keene State recognized seniors Peter Kersker (Ipswich, Mass.), Scott Cluff (Kingston, Mass.), Nate Gaughan (Newington, Conn.), Mike Vitone (East Greenwich, R.I.), and Ross Stanton (Bethlehem, N.Y.).    

Keene State outshot the Colonials 21-7 and held a 5-3 advantage in corner kicks.

Keene State is at Conn. College on Tuesday.  Western Conn. travels to Springfield College on Wednesday.