GORHAM, Maine 9/25/11-- Freshman forward Mazen Aljari (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia) scored in the 104th minute to give the University of Southern Maine Huskies an emotional 2-1, double-overtime victory over the Keene State College Owls in a Little East Conference men's soccer match played Sunday afternoon at Hannaford Field.

            In the second, sudden-death overtime period, Aljari calmly received a pass from freshman Nate Rossignol (Caribou, Maine) and beat scrambling Keene State freshman goalkeeper Michael Ketterman (Monson, Mass.) from about eight yards out.  The goal was Aljari's second game-winning goal of the season.  Rossignol had controlled a cross from the right side, took a touch pulling Ketterman to the left side of the goal before making the pass to Aljari.

            Despite playing two men down, Keene State forced the game into extra time when freshman Brett Sullivan's (Barrington, R.I.) in-swinging corner kick found its way through a maze of players and into the Huskies' goal with 14.6 seconds remaining in regulation time.

            The Huskies got the first goal of the match when freshman Chase Cote (Lewiston, Maine) found himself the beneficiary of a rebound at the right post.  Cote put the ball into the net for his first collegiate marker in the 76th minute.

            Southern Maine junior goalkeeper Jeremy Turner (Portland, Maine/Deering) had an outstanding match making eight saves.  Keene State sophomore Malcolm Cheney (Hopkinton, Mass.) did not record a save before being red carded in the 15th minute after taking down Aljari in the box.  Senior Paul Blackmer (Boylston, Mass./Tahanto), who came on and stopped Aljari's penalty kick attempt, had two saves in 61 minutes before also being shown the red card for arguing with the referee after Cote's goal.  Ketterman had two saves over the final 27-plus minutes.

            Keene State out shot Southern Maine, 16-8, and held a 10-0 advantage in corner kicks.

            The Huskies, playing their first game since the tragic loss of freshman forward Buddy Reid, are 2-6-0 overall and undefeated in two conference matches.  The Huskies hit the road on Wednesday (4:00 p.m.) to play at Colby College.  Keene State will host Babson College under the lights on Wednesday (6:30 p.m.).

(Courtesy Southern Maine Sports Information)