GORHAM, Maine  --  Junior Ryan Murphy (Monson, Mass.) came off the bench to score the game-winning goal with less than four minutes to play in regulation time to give Keene State College a hard-fought, 2-1 victory over the University of Southern Maine in a Little East Conference men's soccer match Saturday afternoon at the USM Soccer Field.

            The win was the sixth straight for the Owls who end the regular season 13-6-0 and 6-1-0 in the conference.  The Owls will go into next week's LEC championship tournament as the top seeded team.  It's been a reversal of fortune season for the Owls, who missed qualifying for the LEC tournament last season for the first time in program history. 

            "The guys played unbelievable today," said KSC Coach Ron Butcher.  "They dug their heels in after Southern Maine tied it up found a way to win. Getting the top seed is bittersweet for the seniors after last season. Now we get ready for an LEC tournament game on Wednesday. 

The Huskies finish the season 7-9-2 overall and 2-4-1 in the conference.

            Senior Nate Gaughan (Harwinton, Conn./Lewis Mills), who just subbed into the match, took a throw-in from the left touch-line that bounced toward the USM penalty area where Murphy beat USM goalkeeper David Kreps (Agawam, Mass./Wilbraham & Monson) to the ball and touched it past Kreps for his first goal of the season.

            Keene State, playing a man down for the final 68 minutes, took a 1-0 lead in the 31st minute when senior Scott Cluff (Kingston, Mass./Silver Lake) put an 18-yard shot from the right side past Kreps and inside the far side post for his second marker of the campaign.

            Needing a victory and some help to make the LEC postseason tournament, the Huskies got the equalizer in the 56th minute.  Senior Peter McHugh (Scarborough, Maine) finished off a cross from junior Nick Johnson (South Portland, Maine) with a 12-yard shot over Keene State senior keeper Peter Kersker (Ipswich, Mass.).

            Kersker finished the match making three saves.  Kreps registered six stops.  Both sides had 10 shots, and Keene State held a slim 2-1 edge in corner kicks.

(Courtesy USM Sports Information)