KEENE, N.H. 9/1/12 –  Keene State College and Brandeis University won opening-round games of the third annual XARA –Wegotsoccer.com Men's Soccer Classic at Owl Athletic Complex on Saturday. 

            Keene State (1-0) overcame an early one goal deficit to defeat Nichols College (0-1) in the second game 3-1. Owl junior Scott Douglas (East Greenwich, R.I.) netted the tying and go-ahead goals for KSC.

In the first game of the day, senior Lee Russo (Westford, Mass.) tallied two goals to lead Brandeis University (1-0) to a 3-0 shutout victory over Ithaca College (0-1.)

Keene State found itself down 1-0 after freshman forward Donny Whittle (Ellington, Conn.) broke down the left side and buried a shot into the far corner to give Nichols an early 1-0 lead at the 6:15 mark.

Nichols had several opportunities to add to its lead.  Whittle hit the post and later  KSC senior back Preston Ingram (Derby, Vt.) was able to clear the ball out of danger after Owl sophomore goalie Mike Ketterman (Monson, Mass.) was pulled out of position. "It's all about communication. The keeper was out, so I knew I had to drop in and make the play," said Ingram."

Douglas, who led the Little East in scoring with 14 goals last year, picked right up where he left off, scoring the Owls' first goal to tie the game 1-1 five minutes later. He beat two Bison defenders and put the past Nichols freshman goalie Alex Geas (Marblehead, Mass.) into the short side.  "Their defender miss-hit it and it was my job to get the ball and put it in," he said.

Douglas scored his second goal and game-winner six minutes into the second half, dribbling to the left side and finding the corner of the net.  "I was trying to get the shot off and luckily it got though," said Douglas.  "I missed the first few games of last season, so it's great to be out here."  

Freshman Rushane Kelley (Keene, N.H.) scored a key insurance goal for the Owls at the 71:41 mark.  Taking a feed from senior Ian Ferguson (Millwood, N.Y), Kelley beat Geas to ball and put it into the open net for his first college goal.  "It was just happy to score for the team," said Kelley.  "I was more excited seeing the reaction of my teammate's faces.  Hopefully there are more goals to come." 

"It was your typical first game, 'said KSC Coach Ron Butcher.  "They took it to us in the first half.  At halftime we turned things around.  We're trying to play an attacking style of offense and its takes time to get everyone on the same page." 

Keene State outshot Nichols 22-14.  Ketterman made three saves for the owls while Geas turned aside six shots for the Bison.

In the first game, Russo scored the Judge's first two goals.  He finished off a cross from sophomore Tyler Savonen (Orleans, Mass.) to give Brandeis a 1-0 lead at the 30:11 mark.  He scored off a rebound to make it 2-0 in the second half.  Seconds after coming into the game, freshman Josh Hacunda scored the final goal for the Judges at the 66:01 mark.

Senior Blake Minchoff (Fiskdale, Mass.) made four saves to notch the shutout in goal for Brandeis.  Sophomore Jordan Gentile (Syracuse, N.Y.)  started in goal for Ithaca and made three saves.  Junior David Kaminsky (Ithaca, N.Y.) took over with 12 minutes to play and didn't record a save.

Day two of the Classic on Sunday will have Nichols taking on Ithaca College at noon and Keene State battling Brandeis at 2:30 p.m.  Two long-time coaches Butcher, who is in his 42nd season at KSC and Mike Coven, in his 40th season at Brandeis, will match wits.  "Brandeis is a top-10 team.  It's going to be a big challenge for us,' said Butcher.