KEENE, N.H. 9/15/12 – The Keene State College men's soccer team began its Little East Conference schedule with a 3-1 win over UMass-Boston at Owl Athletic Complex on Saturday. 

            The Owls (4-2, 1-0 LEC) took a 1-0 lead at the 24:04 mark on a direct kick goal by senior Blake Nyman (Plymouth, Mass.).  UMB Bryce Menard (Randolph, Mass.) misjudged the shot, thinking it was going to go wide.  But the ball rolled into the far corner of the net.

            Junior Stefanos Galouzis (Watertown, Mass.) tied the game for UMass-Boston (2-3-1, 0-1 LEC) six minutes later when he finished off a cross from sophomore Kelvin Martinez (East Boston, Mass.).

            Freshman Rushane Kelley (Keene, N.H.) scored what proved to be the game-winning goal, his second of the season with seven minutes to play in the first half.  Kelly got a foot on senior Kyle Leavitt's (Plymouth, Mass.) and roofing the ball under the cross bar to put the Owls up 2-1.  "I was just waiting for it to come down and hit it," said Kelley. "It feels good to get the game-winner." 

            "Coach has been doing a great job of getting me in shape," added Kelley, who delighted the crowd with a break dance after scoring the goal.  "I was breathing real heavy when I scored my first goal of the season."

            Looking for the equalizer, the Beacons unleashed a flurry of shots in the final minute of the half.  KSC junior goalie Malcolm Cheney (Hopkinton, Mass.) robbed junior Alejandro Lazalde (Monterrey, Mex.).  Cheney, who finished the game with five saves, dove to the left keeping the ball from going into the top corner of the net.

            Finding himself open in the box, Galouzis had another chance to the tie the game for the Beacons, but his shot was blocked by Nyman. 

            Keene State had a chance to add to its lead later in the half, but breakaway bids by freshman Matt Langford (East Longmeadow, Mass.) and junior Bryce Lawlor (Woodbury, Conn.) were tuned aside by Menard.  Menard had three saves in the game.

            Senior Joe Senecal (Manchaug, Mass.) scored an insurance goal for KSC on a penalty kick at the 11:29 mark of the second half.  The penalty kick was awarded to the Owls after Kelley was taken down in the box. 

            "I'm just trying to go out there and work hard," said Leavitt, who picked a couple of assists in the game.  "We're trying to put ourselves in a good position.  We don't want to be chasing anyone in the conference. We want to play the conference championship right in our back yard."

            UMass-Boston had a slight 17-13 advantage in shots and corner kick (7-5) opportunities.

            Both teams play non-conference games on Wednesday.  Keene State travels to Worcester State (6:30 p.m.) and UMass-Boston returns home to face Salem State (3:30 p.m.).