KEENE, N.H.10/12/13 – UMass-Dartmouth erased a two goal first half deficit with four unanswered goals to hand Keene State College a tough 4-2 loss in a Little East Conference men's soccer game played at Owl Athletic Complex on Saturday. 

The Owls (4-8, 2-2 LEC) scored on its first two shots on goals. Senior Brian Swindell (Milford, Mass.) accounted for both Keene State goals.  Taking a lead pass from junior Nick Godzyk (Willington, Mass.), Swindell put a shot over the shoulder of UMD freshman goalie Andrew Deane (Woburn, Mass.) to give Keene State a 1-0 lead at the 6:52 mark of the first half.

Later in the half, classmate Bryce Lawlor (Woodbury, Conn.) found Swindell alone on the right side and the senior forward drove the ball in the far corner of the net with his second goal of the game and his fourth of the season. 

The Owls couldn't hold off the Corsairs (8-3, 3-1 LEC) who scored the next four goals. "You never feel comfortable against a very good team," said KSC Coach Ron Butcher. "Once again we fell asleep for eight minutes and they took advantage with four unanswered goals.  I'm very disappointed in the lack of effort.  The next few games, I'm going to go with the young guys and let the chips fall where they may."

Freshman Matt Vidal (New Bedford, Mass.) began the Corsairs 'comeback when he scored on a rebound at the 38:12 mark to cut the Owls lead to 2-1.

Swindell had an opportunity to get the goal back with 2:37 to go in the half, but Deane made a diving save to keep it a one goal game at the half.

UMass-Dartmouth tied the game a couple of minutes into the second half.  KSC senior goalie Malcolm Cheney (Hopkinton, Mass.) was unable to handle a crossing ball and sophomore Aelaf Solomon (Framingham, Mass.) knocked in the loose ball to even the score.

KSC had a golden opportunity to regain the lead at the 34:07 mark of the half, but senior Scott Douglas' pass to sophomore Eddie Mercer (South Hadley, Mass.) in front was just behind him.

Less than a minute later, Vidal scored his second of the game on a rebound to put the Corsairs up 3-2.  Victor Ferreira (St. Michael, Portugal) added an insurance goal four minutes later to account for the final score.

UMass-Dartmouth outshot the Owls 24-16 and had a slim 6-5 advantage in corner kicks.

Cheney played the first 61:55 and made seven saves before giving way to junior Mike Ketterman (Monson, Mass.), who stopped one shot. 

Deane finished the game with five saves for the Corsairs, who extend their winning streak to three games.

Both teams hit the road for non-conference games on Wednesday.  The Owls will be at Framingham State (3 p.m.) while UMD travels to Roger Williams (7 p.m.).