KEENE, N.H. –
Luke Belisle netted the lone goal for the Keene State College men's soccer team on Tuesday night as the Owls defeated Colby-Sawyer College 1-0 to kick off their 2026 campaign with a home victory.
Records
- Keene State: 1-0
- Colby-Sawyer: 0-1
Highlights...coming soon
Postgame Interview (Coach Schmidt)
Postgame Interview (Luke Belisle)
How it Happened
Both teams on the attack early as the Chargers outshot KSC 4-2 over the first 24 minutes of the contest, but each team only recorded a shot on goal apiece, which the opposing goalie saved in net to keep the contest scoreless early on. Although the Owls were unable to create early shots, they had four corners over the first chunk of the first half, while CSC was called for a pair of yellow cards early in the first half. The Owls found their grove the rest of the opening half as they started to find shots on frame, but the Chargers' goalkeeper, Evan Whalen, saved all three shots KSC had on goal the rest of the opening half, keeping the contest tied at 0-0 heading into the half.
Whalen continued to hold strong in net for the Chargers early in the second half with another pair of saves two minutes apart. Shortly after Whalen's saves, now donning a new number eight, not his typical number 27 from the past two seasons, Belisle found the back of the net after the Chargers were unable to clear a KSC corner and the ball landed at the goal line for Belisle to bury into the back of the net to put the Owls ahead. KSC continued to apply the pressure the next 10 minutes but of the five shots KSC attempted, Whalen saved the one on target. The rest of the way CSC tried to do what they could to mount a comeback, but
Mateu Farre-Torres held strong in net for the Owls with three saves the rest of the way to shut the Chargers out for the 1-0 victory for KSC.
Inside the Box
- KSC remains perfect in the all-time series between the two teams, moving to 7-0 for the third shutout of the Chargers in the series.
- Belisle netted the Owls' first goal of the season for his fourth collegiate career goal after scoring one his freshman season, and a pair a year ago in his sophomore season.
- Farre-Torres posted his first clean sheet in goal for KSC after five appearances in 2025 with the four-save performance.
- KSC kept Whalen busy in goal, with nine shots on goal (19 total), compared to four shots on goal (10 total) from the Chargers.
- Dorian Wilczynski led the Owls on the attack with six shots, including three on target.
- KSC doubled up CSC on corner kicks, 8-4 in the victory.
- Four Owls made their collegiate debuts in the victory with Pietro Pirrone playing the entire game in his debut, while Lapo Cabianca, Edoardo Tambini, and Jorge Zaura all saw action off the bench in their debuts.
Up Next
Keene State's next game is back at home for their second of three consecutive games at Dr. Ron Butcher Field to open the season as the Owls host Babson College on Saturday, September 5, at 1:00 PM for the first game of the Keene State Kickoff Classic.
Colby-Sawyer's next contest is their 2026 home opener as the Chargers host the Wentworth Institute of Technology on Saturday, September 5, at 2:00 PM.
