KEENE, N.H. 9/5/10 – Host Keene State College and Kean (N.J.) University posted wins in the second day of action at the XARA men's soccer tournament at Owl Athletic Complex on Sunday. Keene State (3-0) held on for a 2-1 win over Fitchburg State University (0-2) in the second game of the day. It's the first time the Owls have open their season at 3-0 since 2006. In Sunday's first game, Kean University (2-1) shutout Saint Joseph's College of Maine (1-1) by a score of 1-0.

The Owls went up 2-0 and held off the Falcons to post the win.  KSC controlled possession throughout the first half, but had many of its shots blocked by the FSU defense.  Sophomore Danny Silverman (Maynard, Mass.), who was named the defensive MVP of the tournament, finally got the Owls on the board with 4:46 to play in the half when he scored on a rebound following a free kick by freshman Bryce Lawlor (Naugatuck, Conn.). 

"The ball came to me and I just put it into the empty net," said Silverman about his first career goal.  "We had a little trouble at the end but we fought through it and got the win."

Senior Cam Blair (Keene, N.H.) scored what proved to be the game-winning goal three minutes into the second half.  Blair finished off a through ball from sophomore Joe Senecal (Manchaug, Mass.), who had two goals against Kean on Saturday and was selected as the offensive MVP of tournament.

A communication breakdown in KSC's backfield enabled Fitchburg to cut the lead in half.  Senior Lionso Ventura (Westminster, Mass.) scored at the 77:37 mark to make it a 2-1 game.

Keene State goalie Paul Blackmer (Boylston, Mass.) was the story from there. Making his second consecutive start, the junior stopped a couple of strong bids by Ventura, getting a hand on his second attempt while outstretched on the ground. He later made a diving save off of Dennis Kane (Monson, Mass.) with 1:19 to go to preserve the win.  "I saw him lining up and knew he was going to the right side, so I just got over there and made the save," said Blackmer, who finished the game with four saves.

"Paul had a tremendous tournament for us," said KSC coach Ron Butcher.  "He worked really hard to get to a point."

Butcher said the Owls came out flat today.  "We played terrific yesterday and came out a little flat today," Butcher said.  "We need to put teams like this away."  

The Owls outshot the Falcons 25-9 and had a 5-2 advantage in corner kicks. 

Sophomore Evan DeAmicis (Townsend, Mass.) made 11 save for Fitchburg. 

Sophomore Kharee Winslow's (Piscataway, N.J.) unassisted goal with 22:06 remaining in the game was the difference as Kean (N.J.) University edged Saint Joseph's College of Maine in Sunday's first game.

Controlling an errant ball at the top of the box, Winslow drilled a shot that ricochet off a Monk defender and into the net for the game-winner with 12:08 to play.

Saint Joseph's best opportunity to score came just five minutes into the game when sophomore Tyler Rand's header went over the cross-bar.

Winslow had a chance to score earlier in the game, but his shot sailed just wide of the far post at the 30:16 mark of the second half.

Kean outshot Saint Joseph's 15-7.  Cougar senior goalie Alfredo Oquendo (North Plainfield, N.J., who was named the goalie MVP of the tournament, finished the game with two saves to notch the shutout. Monk junior netminder Nick Campasano (Goffstown, Mass.) stopped three shots.