Box Score

DANBURY, Conn.--Senior Vance Bates netted his first goal of the season, but it was not enough to prevent the Keene State College men's soccer team from falling to a 3-1 defeat to host Western Connecticut State on Saturday at the Westside Athletic Complex.

Records:

• Keene State: 0-5-1, 0-1 LEC
• Western Connecticut: 8-3, 1-1 LEC

How it Happened

Keene State drew first blood 16:27 into the contest when Bates took a defense splitting pass from Noah Spaulding, took a touch, then curled an effort past WestConn goalie Daniel Szabo.  

Their lead wouldn't last long as WestConn answered less than two minutes later when Franz Muhaj found Kent Eannarino for his third goal of the campaign, deadlocking the count at 1-1.

The remainder of the first half was physical and tightly contested as they entered halftime tied.

The hosts took a 2-1 advantage in the 49th minute when Eannarino ripped a cross from the left side into the box where a diving Muhaj headed a liner into the back of the net, good for his team-leading 6th goal of the season.   Eannarino rounded out the scoring in the 84th minute when he ripped a rocket into the short side of the next, squeezing the ball between the right post and the Keene goalkeeper's outstretched arms. 

Szabo and KSC goalie Anthony Pasciuto each made one stop.    

Inside the Box

• Chances in the game were at a premium, as the two teams combined for just six shots on goal - two for Keene State and four for Western Conn.
• Bates scored the fifth goal of his KSC career - all of which have come on the road.

Up Next

• Keene State returns home to host long-time rival Plymouth State University at 7 p.m. on September 29.
• Western Conn. hosts to Eastern Conn. the same day.