GORHAM, N.H. – The Keene State men's soccer team traveled to the University of Southern Maine Saturday for their last LEC road game of the season as they took on the Huskies. After 89 minutes and 55 seconds of scoreless play, Damir Hamzic would head home the game winner for the Owls, coming off a corner from Declan Coughlin, giving the Owls the 1-0 victory on his first career collegiate goal.

Records

• Keene State: 8-3-2, 5-0-2 LEC
• Southern Maine: 4-8-3, 2-4 LEC         

How It Happened
In the first half, Keene State outshot Southern Maine 7-2, as they were on the attack often. Six minutes into the game, Cristian Correa would take the first shot of the day, sending a shot from just inside the box on net, where USM's goalkeeper, Simon Gabaree, would make the save. Just a few minutes later, following a KSC corner kick from Rahul Drukpa, Hamzic would send a header on net, but Owen Weatherby would head the ball out of the air on the goal line, saving a goal and keeping the game scoreless 10 minutes into play. Owls' goalie, Regan Racicot, would make his first save of the day with 17 minutes left to play in the first half, as Jack Brady attempted a shot on net from a free kick just outside the Owls' box. During the rest of the first half, the Owls would get three shots off, as Drukpa would send the first of the three high over Southern Maine's goal. Correa would try to score a header from the edge of the box for the second of the three, but Gabaree would make the save. The final shot of the first half would come from Coughlin, but it would be blocked by the Husky defense, keeping the game 0-0, heading into halftime.
 
5 minutes into the second half, Racicot would make another save on Brady, to help keep the match scoreless early on in the contest. A few minutes later, Racicot would make another save, this time coming off a shot from Will Smith.  Over the next four minutes, the Owls would get off three shots, although only one would be on target, as Correa would get another shot off from inside USM's box, but Gabaree would make a save. Both teams would continue to trade possessions, until when under 10 minutes left in the contest, USM would get a pair of scoring opportunities. Cole Johnson would try to capitalize on the first opportunity, as he headed a shot towards the goal, over the diving Racicot, but the shot would bounce off the post and back out into play. 18 seconds later, Colin Albert would send a shot on net, but Racicot would make another save, keeping the game scoreless with little time remaining in the match. Gabaree would make another save of his own, shortly after Racicot's' as Ali Alzawar would send a header on goal that Southern Maine's goalie was able to save. As time was winding down and it seemed like the match would end up scoreless, Keene State's Caleb Harmon, sent a free kick into USM's box with 16 seconds left to play. The kick would bounce off a Husky defender and out of bounds for a corner kick for the Owls as time was winding down. Coughlin would gather the ball, sprint over to the far corner, place the ball down, take a couple steps back and quickly fire the ball into the box. The ball would find the rising head of the tallest player on either roster, the 6'4' junior defender for the Owls, Damir Hamzic, who would head the ball past the diving Gabaree, giving the Owls the 1-0 win coming on his first career collegiate goal.
 
Racicot made four saves on the day while posting another shutout, his fifth of the season, and second straight. Gabaree made four saves in the match, while allowing the late goal to Hamzic. 
 
The Head Coach of the Keene State men's soccer team, Matt Schmidt, gave credit to Southern Maine for a tough game, "It was a hard-fought win and a tough battle. Credit to both teams working hard and playing strong defense. They were a well-coached side and organized. [They were] challenging to play against and break down." Schmidt continued, noting how happy he was for the team to come away with the win, along with how important and great Hamzic has been for the Owls, "Damir's goal at the end was special, we wanted to have the advantage on set pieces and to score a goal like that in the final seconds was excellent! [Hamzic's] been a great leader and helped the defense to several shut outs. Now for us to get the game winner in the final seconds is great for the team and for him!"
 
Inside the Box

• With the win, Keene State improves to 21-4-2 all-time against the Huskies, avenging their 1-2 loss from last year. 
• The Owls outshot the Huskies, 13-8, including six to four in shots on goal. 
• Keene State had far more corner kicks, as they had 11 to the Southern Maine's one.
• Freshman Cristian Correa led the Owls on shots on goal for the second game in a row, totaling three shots on goal from his five total shots on the day. 
• Keene State controls their own destiny now, as a win against Rhode Island College next Saturday, October 21 at 2:00 pm will clinch them the No. 1 seed in the playoffs, no matter the outcomes of the other conference games.

Up Next

Keene State's next game is their final regular season road game of the 2023 campaign, as they will travel to take on MCLA on Tuesday, October 17, at 6:00 pm.
Southern Maine will play on short rest as they will travel to take on Thomas College just a day after facing the Owls, coming on Sunday, October 15, at 4:00 PM.