KEENE, N.H. 9/2113 – The Keene State College men's soccer team opened its Little East Conference schedule with a 5-0 shutout victory over rival Plymouth State University under the lights at Owl Athletic Complex on Saturday night.

Winning back-to-back contests after dropping its first five games of the season, Keene State improves to 2-5 (1-0 LEC).  Plymouth State (2-4, 0-1 LEC) has lost two of its last three games.

After struggling to find the back of the net, Keene State scored a season high five goals, led by senior Scott Douglas (East Greenwich, R.I.) who had a pair.  "Starting the season the way we did, we knew we had to pick up the intensity," said Douglas.  Today's game was a big confidence booster."

Keene State erupted for two goals within a one minute span to take an early 2-0 lead.  Douglas put the Owls up 1-0 at the 25:01 mark. The senior striker dribbled around PSU freshman goalie Felix Lindeberg (Stockholm, Sweden) and deposited the ball into the open net.

Keene State second goal came on a nice individual effort by sophomore Eddie Mercer (South Hadley, Mass.).  Mercer used a step over dribble to create space and blasted the ball in the net.   "I took on the center back and saw him slip a little bit and found the corner of the net," said Mercer.  "I'm playing more of an attacking role.  I think our chemistry has come a long way."

KSC had a chance to add to its lead later in the half.  Lindeberg made a kick save on a bid by Douglas and junior Ian Downing (New Boston, N.H.) clanged a shot off the cross bar on a direct kick with 3:12 to go.

Mercer and Douglas combined to increase the Owls advantage two minutes into the second half.  After beating his defender, Mercer laid the ball over to Douglas who put KSC up 3-0 with his second goal of the game and his fourth of the season.

KSC stayed on the offensive and scored again at the 37:36 mark to make it 4-0. Junior Michael Jacques (Tolland, Conn.) headed the ball over to sophomore Dylan Bisceglia (Goffstown, N.H.) who went short side for his second goal of the season.

Junior Nick Godzyk (Wilmington, Mass.) completed the scoring with his first goal of the season at the 29:22 mark when he ripped a shot from 18-yards out that found the upper right corner of net.

Keene State outshot the Panthers 19-12 and had a 7-2 advantage in corner kicks.

Senior Malcolm Cheney (Hopkinton, Mass.) made three saves to notch his first shutout of the season.  Lindeberg stopped five shots for Plymouth State.

Keene State host Babson College on Wednesday 6:30 p.m. Plymouth State returns home to face Tufts on Tuesday (5 p.m.).