DANBURY, Conn.--Aidan Dean's 67th minute goal proved to be the game winner as the Keene State College men's soccer team knocked off Western Connecticut State University 2-0 on Sunday afternoon.

The Owls improve to 9-6-1, and 3-2-1 in the Little East Conference.  Heading into the final weekend of the season, KSC is locked in a three way tie with Rhode Island College and Plymouth State University for the final two playoff spots in the conference tournament, with UMass Dartmouth a further three points back.

KSC holds the tiebreaker over RIC thanks to a 3-1 win on October 4, so as long as KSC's result against Southern Maine on Nov. 1 is not bettered by Rhode Island College in their game against UMass Boston, the Owls will be in.

Midway through the second half, Western junior Phil Dagostino took a shot from just outside the left edge of the Keene State box that curled around the keeper and caromed off the inside of the right post.  Keene State goalie Michael Ketterman was able to recover just before the ball crossed the goal-line, grabbing the ball out of the air to prevent the goal from scoring.

Keene State quickly broke back down the field on the counter-attack.  Dean brought the ball into the Western end unmarked on the right side and beat Western keeper Austin Tierney, with a cross-cage shot to give the Owls a 1-0 lead at the 66:54 mark.

Kaleb Lique-Naitove wrapped up the win with his second goal of the season five minutes from time.

Tierney finished with four saves in goal for the Colonials, but suffers the loss.  Ketterman recorded three saves for Keene State to earn the shutout victory.

The Colonials return to action Wednesday, October 29, when they travel to play a non-conference game at Westfield State.  Game time is slated for 7:00 pm.  KSC will host RPI at 5 p.m. on the same day.

(Parts of this story courtesy WCSU)