KEENE N.H. – The Keene State men's soccer team opened their 2023 campaign today with a 3-0 win over Rivier University, with the goals coming from Mbambi Mbungu, Rahul Drukpa, and Cedrick Ishoboravyose.

Records

• Keene State: 1-0-0
• Rivier: 0-1-0

Postgame Interview (Coach Schmidt)
Postgame Interview (Rahul Drukpa)

How it Happened


Neither team would score over the course of the first half, as the teams would trade possessions back and forth. Owls' Captain, Declan Coughlin would try to break the tie, 22:12 into the contest, but Raiders' goalkeeper, Noah Horn would make a save in net. Coughlin's shot on goal was the only one for either team in the first half, as the teams went into halftime tied 0-0. In the first half the Owls would dominate on ball possession, controlling the ball 61% of the time, compared to 39% from Rivier.
 
With 36:25 left to play in the second half, Rahul Drukpa would lead Mbambi Mbungu with a pass into the Raiders' box. Mbungu would gather the ball and fire a shot on net past Horn, putting the Owls up 1-0. A minute and five seconds later, Drukpa would add a goal of his own. Ali Alzawar would send a cross into the box that skipped past three Raiders defenders and found Drukpa, where he would kick the one-timer past the stunned Raiders' goalkeeper.
 
Rivier would try to pull within a goal 10 minutes later, following an Owls turnover in their half, but Cody Sicard would not be able to take advantage of it, as he would fire a shot wide of the net for the Raiders. Not even a minute later, the Raiders would come close to striking again, but Owls' goalkeeper, Regan Racicot would make a safe off of a Rivier corner. After both teams would trade possessions over the next few minutes, Keene would score their third and final goal of the match. Frank Mucyo, controlled the ball in the Owls' defensive half and sent up a perfectly timed pass up to Mbungu in the Raiders half of the field. As Mbungu drew two Rivier defenders, he sent a pass to the top of the box to freshman, Cedrick Ishoboravyose, who would get a shot off and past the right leg of the Raiders' goalkeeper for his first career collegiate goal. The Owls tried to increase their lead down the stretch, but they were unable to as Cristian Correa rang a shot off the crossbar with 11 minutes left and William Edmunds hit the post with five minutes to play, as Keene State would finish the game ahead 3-0.
 
Inside the Box

• Following the win, Keene State improved to a perfect 4-0 against Rivier
• Keene State picks up a win in the first contest of the season for the first time since 2019
• Mbambi Mbungu and Rahul Drukpa led the attack for the Owls, each tallying a goal and an assist in the match
• Drukpa tallied his first point for the Owls since 2021, after not playing in 2022
• The Owls led the possession on the day, controlling the ball 57% of the time, compared to Rivier's 43%

Up Next
Keene State will play in games on back-to-back day, as they will travel and play Lesley University on Sunday, September 3, at 4:00 PM
Rivier will travel to Johnson & Wales University for their next game on Tuesday, September 5, at 7:00 PM