KEENE, N.H  10/26/13 – Senior Scott Douglas (East Greenwich, R.I.) made sure that longtime Keene State College men's soccer coach Ron Butcher walked off the field a winner in his final home game on Saturday.  The senior striker scored two goals, including the game winner on a penalty kick midway in the second half to lead the Owls to a 3-1 Little East Conference win over Western Conn. State University at Owl Athletic Complex.

"It's great getting this game for Coach Butcher.  I knew we were going to get it," said junior goalie Mike Ketterman (Monson, Mass.), who finished the game with four saves, including a couple of big stops in the second half. 

"I'm pretty happy.  You never know what to expect when you have your two captains on the bench, three or four injuries and a make shift line-up," said Butcher, patrolling the sidelines for the last time in his 43-year KSC career. "They picked it up today. Hopefully, we'll get some of our starters back in next week and be in the hunt when the Little East tournament comes around."  

With the win, Keene State (6-10, 4-2 LEC) remains third in the LEC standings and secures a sport in the conference post-season tournament.  Western Conn. falls to 3-12-2 and 1-3-2 in league play.

"We struggled at the beginning, but we turned it around," said Douglas.  "The team is clicking now."

Keene State had the better of the scoring opportunities in the opening minutes of play, but it was the Colonials who struck for the first goal at the 35:38 mark of the first half.  Junior Chris Jaffrey (Nowalk, Conn.) dribbled in and chipped the ball past Ketterman to make it 1-0.

Keene State answered a minute later with two seniors hooking-up.  Brian Swindell (Milford, Mass.) sent Douglas a lead pass and he didn't miss, driving the ball into the far corner of the net.  "Brian gave me a good ball. I just took it took it to the middle and just slid it home," said Douglas. 

KSC maintained its pressure. Junior Nate Banas (Monson, Mass.) had a low hard shot that just missed the far post midway in the half.

The Owls persistence paid off at the 28:26 mark of the second half.  Taken down in the box, Douglas was awarded a penalty kick.  The senior striker went short side giving Keene State a 2-1 lead with his second goal of the game and team leading 11th of the season. "I did what I do in practice," said Douglas.  "I made the goalie go the wrong way and tucked it in." 

Looking to extend the Owls lead later in the half, junior Michael Jacques (Tolland, Conn.) defected a shot right into the hands of WCSU sophomore Bobby Strevel (Enfield, Conn.) 

The Colonials had their best chance to tie the game on a corner kick with 16:02 to go.  Freshman Vigan Pacuku (Prospect, Conn.) collected the ball just inside the box.   Coming out to cut down his angle, Ketterman picked the ball out of the air as KSC maintained its lead. "I came out for the cross, but didn't get a good punch on the ball," so I got back into the center of the goal. He shot it again and I just snatched it," said Ketterman. "That was a big save."

Western Conn. was issued a red card with 10:29 to play and played the rest of the game a man down.

Seeing rare action in the final minutes of the game, senior Tim Cullity (Pembroke, Mass.) gave the Owls an insurance goal with 2:44 to play.  Settling a pass from freshman Matt Povall (Poughquag, N.Y.), Cullity buried the ball into the back of the net to give KSC a 3-1 lead. "It meant the world to me," said Cullity.  "To get into the game in the last few minutes and score on top of that is indescribable."

Srtrevel finished the game with eight saves for Western Conn.

Keene State had a wide 22-9 advantage in shots.  Both teams had two corners in the game. 

Keene State is at RPI on Wednesday (7 p.m.).

 We struggled at the beginning, but we turned it around," said Douglas.  The team is clicking now."

Prior ot the game, KSC honored its five seniors:   

Malcolm Cheney (Monson, Mass.), Bryce Lawlor (Woodbury, Conn.), Douglas, Swindell, and  Cullity.