KEENE, N.H. 9/30/09 - Keene State fell behind early and never
recovered, falling to Babson College 3-1 in non-conference men's
soccer action at Owl Athletic Complex on Wednesday night.
Freshman Eric Anderson (Scituate, Mass.) and sophomore Billy
Nickerson (Middletown, Mass.) scored goals three minutes apart to
stake the Beavers to a 2-0 lead. Senior Dan Fogarty (Brookline,
N.H.) added a goal to give Babson a 3-0 halftime lead.
"Babson always comes out loaded for bear and we never matched
their intensity," said KSC Coach Ron Butcher.
"This team has to realize that you have to come out ready to play
every game."
Keene State (5-4) saw its three game winning streak come to an
end. Babson (7-3) has won six out of its last seven games.
Babson, who had three corners in the first five minutes of
action, controlled play in the early going. A closed-ranged
shot by Nickerson following the third corner was smothered by Owl
senior goalie Peter Kersker (Ipswich, Mass).
The Beavers' pressure paid off with a goal at the 8:51 mark when
Anderson finished off a crossing ball from Nickerson for his sixth
goal of the season. Nickerson made it a 2-0 game three minutes
later when he headed home a pass from Anderson.
Keene State's best chance to get on the board came at the 23:50
mark on a drive from just outside the box by freshman Bobby
Saraf (Canton, Mass.) that was handled by Babson sophomore
goalie Peter Crowley (Lexington, Mass.). Later in the half, Crowley
made a diving save on a scoring bid by sophomore Cam
Blair (Keene, N.H)
Fogarty concluded the first half scoring when he tucked in a
free shot kick just under the cross bar from 40-yards out.
Freshman Joe Senecal (Manchaug, Mass.) scored
the Owls only goal on a fine individual effort at the 50:39 mark of
the second half. Senecal came in from the right side and
ripped a shot into the far corner for his fifth goal of the
season.
Keene State outshot the Beavers 13-7. Babson led in corner
kicks 8-3.
Kersker finished the game with one save while Crowley stopped
three Owl shots.
Both teams return to the field on Saturday. Keene State is
at Rhode Island College and Babson is home to face Union College.
