KEENE, N.H.   10/13/12 – Junior Brian Swindell's (Milford, Mass.) goal midway through the second half was the difference in Keene State College's 1-0 Little East Conference victory over Rhode Island College before a Home Coming crowd at Owl Athletic Complex on Saturday night.

Picking up its second straight win, Keene State (8-5-1, 3-1-1 LEC) moves into third place in the Little East standings.  Rhode Island College (3-9-1, 2-3 LEC) has dropped five out of its last six games.

"I thought we played very well in the second half," said KSC Coach Ron Butcher.  "We're not a team that scores a lot of goals, so it was nice to get a shutout for a change." It's hard to keep playing these games.  If you make one mistake it can come back and bite you."

Coming out flat, the Owls showed some life in the second half, creating a few scoring opportunities.  Junior Scott Douglas (East Greenwich, R.I.) almost put the Owls on the board, but his drive from just outside the box sailed over the crossbar.

Five minutes later at the 59:36 mark, Keene State finally broke through with senior Kyle Leavitt (Plymouth, Mass.) setting up Swindell for the only goal of the game.  "I saw Brian make a great run and I knew it was now or never.  I knew I had to pull the trigger and get it to him as soon as I could," said Leavitt.

"It was a perfect through ball by Kyle.  I just felt it right on my foot and tucked it away," said Swindell, about his game-winner and sixth goal of the season.  "I knew it was going to be a really close game.  We've been making runs all night long and I was fortunate to be on the end of the one that clicked." 

The Owls' defense took over from there, allowing just one shot on goal a drive by senior Sean McGuire (Portsmouth, R.I.) that KSC junior goalie Malcolm Cheney (Hopkinton, Mass.) easily handled.

It was Keene State's first shutout win of the season.  "We've been trying to have a clean sheet all season," said senior Blake Nyman (Plymouth, Mass.).  "I thought we played hard defense throughout the second half." 

Keene State's defense momentarily broke down with just under four minutes to play when a wide open sophomore Brian Sujecki (Pawcatuck, Conn.) chipped a shot just over the net. Less than a minute later, RIC was given a direct kick just to the left of the box.   Sophomore David Ricci's (Smithfield, R.I.) drive was knocked down by the KSC defense. 

Taking the ball up the field in transition, Swindell almost got his second goal of the game, but his hard shot just missed the far post. 

Cheney needed to make just one save to notch his first shutout of the season and the fourth of his career. 

Sophomore Christopher Duarte (Cumberland, R.I.) finished the game with eight saves for the Anchormen.

Prior to the game, Keene State honored its six seniors: Preston Ingram, Ian Ferguson, Mike Jacome, Joe Senecal, Leavitt and Nyman.

Keene State hosts Framingham State on Tuesday (6:30 p.m.)