KEENE, N.H. – The Little East Conference home opener for the Keene State College men's soccer team was a back-and-forth battle with Eastern Connecticut State University on Saturday afternoon, but after 84 minutes of scoreless action, the Warriors broke through the Owls' defense and found the back of the net as KSC fell 1-0 to open LEC action.
Records
- Keene State: 1-4-0 (0-1-0 LEC)
- Eastern Connecticut: 4-1-0 (1-0-0 LEC)
Postgame Interview (Coach Schmidt)
How it Happened
KSC was on the attack early as they recorded three shots over the opening 12 minutes, but ECSU's goalkeeper, Jack Harmon, saved a pair of shots on goal from
Jack Corby early on. The Warriors had their first shot on goal 20 minutes into the contest, coming from Sebastian Kadlof, but the Owls' freshman goalkeeper,
Tommaso Lorrai, made the save before the Owls continued to apply pressure on the other side of the field the next 10 minutes. KSC's attack recorded five shots, to go with a pair of corners, but Harmon held strong by denying
Luke Belisle and
Edoardo Tambini from finding the back of the net. The rest of the opening quarter neither team recorded a shot on goal as KSC's four shots missed the target and the teams went into the half tied at 0-0.
The Warriors' attack came out of halftime strong as they had a pair of each shots and corner kicks over the first 16 minutes of the second half, but despite KSC's nine fouls over the span, ECSU was unable to capitalize on their opportunities for the moment. After a save by Lorrai a few minutes prior, in the 68th minute, the Owls had their best chance of the game so far as a free kick in their defensive zone was cut off by Lorrai and sent out ahead to KSC's attack.
Dorian Wilczynski ended up breaking away from the Warriors' defense, but Harmon stood tall in goal by making the save to deny the Owls from taking the lead with 22 minutes left to play. Just a few minutes later, the Owls had another opportunity to find the back of the net, but the pass across the Warriors' box couldn't find a boot from KSC and the game remained scoreless with 18 minutes left to go. Over the following 10 minutes KSC's attack continued to apply the pressure, but Harmon saved the shot on goal from
Lapo Cabianca with eight minutes remaining. With 5:54 remaining in the contest the Warriors broke the tie as they continued their pressure on the Owls defense over the past few minutes with Kadlof sending a pass through the Owls' defense to Christian Moura, who buried a shot to put the Warriors ahead with a few minutes left to play. The Owls did what they could the rest of the way to try to draw even, but after Harmon saved a shot on goal from Tambini again, the Owls' next two shots, headers from Belisle and
Luke Hartshorn, just went high of the crossbar and KSC was unable to tie the contest as ECSU came away with the 1-0 victory.
Inside the Box
- KSC falls to 20-11-6 in the all-time series between the two teams, having lost the two most recent matchups.
- Lorrai made a pair of saved over the contest for the Owls, while Harmon made a season-high seven saves for the Warriors.
- KSC had the edge on shots, 20-9, including shots on target, 7-3, and corner kicks, 5-3.
- Wilczynski led the contest with five shots, while Tambini and Corby tied for a game-high two shots on goal apiece in the game.
Up Next
Keene State is back on the road at Salve Regina University on Tuesday, September 15, at 6:00 PM for the Owls' next contest.
Eastern Connecticut also plays their next contest on Tuesday, September 15, at 6:00 PM on the road at University of Hartford.
