Owl Soccer Alumni Game

KEENE, N.H. 10/4/10 – What would a Keene State College homecoming be without a couple of alumni games? The combination of enthusiastic alums and ideal weather conditions resulted in a great day of renewed friendships, fun and memories for Owl men’s soccer and softball teams that held alumni games last Saturday.

On the soccer field, alums old and new kicked the ball around.

“I have nothing but good memories, that’s why I always come back” said Derek Bell ’00.  “I love hanging out with old friends and having a good time.”

The alumni game reunited the dynamic goal-scoring duo of Jason Lombardo and Casey Banks ‘05. “We had four years of success and made a lot of friends in the meantime,” said Lombardo. 

“He might have lost a few steps, but he’s still quick,” said Banks about his former teammate.  “We had a great time playing tougher.” 

John Harke 05, who scored his share of key goals for the Owls, said “all the good times come back when you get together with everybody. “

Paul Trocki ’80, who played on Sumner Joyce field, enjoyed playing on Keene State’s new soccer field, even if he had trouble keeping up with the younger guys. “These young guys can run a little faster than we can now, but it was fun,” he said.  

A former Owl who also coached against KSC at then-rival Franklin Pierce, Todd Silegy ’76, said it was great to come back and play with some of the players he coached against and fellow alums.  “At Keene State, we have one common denominator and that’s the ball and Coach Ron Butcher,’ he said.

Charles Owusu ’99, who played for Butcher over 20 years later, also spoke highly of the Owls longtime coach.  “Coach Butcher wanted to keep us tight as a family and that was instrumental in how we developed and came together,” he said.

Walking off the field at the end of the game, Butcher, who was one of the goalies, said “All these guys made Keene State soccer what it is over the years.”