KEENE, N.H. 9/11/13 – The Keene State College men's soccer team is still looking for it first win of the season after dropping a 1-0 non-conference game to Western New England University and hot and sultry Owl Athletic Complex on Wednesday afternoon.

It's the first time a Ron Butcher-led soccer team at Keene State has started the season with four consecutive losses.  The last time the Owls dropped their first four games was in 1958 when the team was coach by Sumner Joyce.  That season, KSC lost its first five games before tying Gorham (now Southern Maine) 1-1.  Keene State finished that season with a 3-6-2 record.

Senior Alex Mazzella (Cheshire, Conn.) scored the only goal of the game for the Golden Bears (3-1) midway in the first half.

Keene State missed a golden opportunity to score in the opening minutes of play.  Junior Nick Godzyk (Wilmington, Mass.) headed a shot that was saved by WNEU senior goalie Domenick Villano (Bronxville,, N.Y.). Godzyk got his own rebound and appeared to have an open net, but Villano came out of nowhere to make a diving save on his shot, keeping KSC off the board.

KSC got a second break at the 33:30 mark when senior Jon Axton (Chicopee, Mass.) was issued a red card, forcing the Golden Bears to play the reminder of the game a man down.

The Owls had a couple more chances to score a few minutes later.  Sophomore Ian Downing (New Boston, N.H.) had a shot that hit off the cross bar.

Despite being a man down, Western New England got on the board, scoring on its first shot on net.  Following a defensive miscue in the Owls' backfield, senior Ryan Williams (Brewster, N.Y) sent a cross over to Mazzella who beat KSC senior goalie Malcolm Cheney (Hopkinton, Mass.) for the only goal of the game.

Cheney kept it a one goal game minutes later when he made a diving save, stopping a bid by Williams, who was alone in front of the net.

KSC continued to rack out scoring opportunities.  Sophomore Ben Reif (Lunenburg, Mass.) had a drive that just went wide of the net with 6:40 to go.   

Looking to get the equalizer in the second half, KSC freshman Rob Hart (Londonderry, N.H.) had a header that just went over the crossbar and senior Scott Douglas (East Greenwich, R.I.) had a drive that just missed the far post.

KSC sophomore Eddie Mercer (South Hadley, Mass.) had a couple of opportunities to score late in the second half. He was set up in front by freshman Jake Johnson (Croton on Hudson, N.Y.) and later missed on a drive from the left flank.

Keene State outshot Western New England 25-10, but couldn't get the ball past Villano, who finished with five saves.  Cheney stopped three shots for the Owls.

Keene State hosts Endicott College on a rare Sunday night game (6p.m.) at Owl Athletic Complex.  

Photo by Mike Steiner