Box Score PROVIDENCE, R.I.--Rhode Island College used three consecutive second-half goals in a span of 20 minutes to secure a 3-1 victory over Keene State, the squad's fifth consecutive win, in Little East Conference men's soccer action played at the RIC Soccer Field on Saturday afternoon.
The victory for the Anchormen (7-4, 3-1 LEC) marks just the second time ('08) in the last 18 seasons that RIC has defeated the Owls (3-7, 1-3 LEC). Coming into the day, RIC was 1-20-1 against KSC since the Owls joined the LEC in 1997.
The Owls withstood early pressure from the Anchormen, with freshman goalkeeper Justin Carnevale making several saves from point-blank range to keep the game scoreless. Keene stayed the course, and in the 36th minute took the lead when senior forward Eddie Mercer slipped a pass to sophomore forward Promise Kpee who then sent a curving blast into the upper corner on the short side to give the Owls the 1-0 advantage. Both defenses would clamp down over the remaining nine minutes to keep the game at 1-0 going into halftime.
RIC junior goalkeeper Chris Moura made one save in the half and Carnevale stopped six in the frame. RIC held an 18-3 advantage in shots over the course of the half with each team notching one corner kick.
The Anchormen struck 14 minutes into the second half when junior midfielder Dan Monteiro won a ball near midfield, chipped the ball up to sophomore forward Komla Dogbey who then sprinted past his defender and beat Carnevale to the far side to knot the game at 1-1in the 59th minute.
RIC freshman midfielder Dennis Vazquez would be the catalyst for the go-ahead goal, as he beat one defender going down the right side, cut to the middle and drew a foul 25-yards from goal. Senior forward José Zarraga calmly stepped up and ripped the free kick into the top left corner to give RIC the 2-1 lead with his seventh goal of the season.
The Anchormen rounded out the scoring in the 79th minute with a long clear from Moura getting deflected up to freshman forward Steven Duncan who beat the keeper to the loose ball and slid it across the box to Vazquez who tapped it into the vacated net for the 3-1 advantage. Keene would mount pressure late, but the RIC defense was up to the task, holding the Owls off the board for the 3-1 victory.
Moura (7-3) made three saves in the victory. Carnevale (2-2) stopped nine in the loss. RIC outshot the Owls, 28-8, and held a slight, 3-2, advantage in corner kicks.
In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will continue Little East Conference action at Plymouth State on Saturday, Oct. 17 (2:30 p.m.). Keene State travels to Framingham State on Tuesday night at 7 p.m.
(Release courtesy RIC)
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