Keene State to face RIC in key LEC men's soccer game on Saturday

KEENE, N.H., 10/2/09 - The two remaining undefeated men's soccer teams in the Little East Conference will clash tomorrow when Keene State College travels to Providence to take on Rhode Island College  (1 p.m.) in a game that could have implications in deciding the regular season champion and home field in the post-season tournament.

Ranked 10th regionally, Keene State (5-4, 2-0 LEC) has posted LEC wins over Plymouth State and Eastern Conn. while Rhode Island College (3-4-2, 2-0 LEC), the defending tournament champs, have conference victories against UMass-Dartmouth and Western Conn. 

Keene State Coach Ron Butcher expects a tough, physical game.  "Both teams lead the conference in fouls, so I expect tomorrow might not be a soccer game, but a war," he said.  "The team that plays soccer will win the game."

The Owls had their three game winning streak come to an end with a 3-1 lost to Babson College on Wednesday night.  The Anchormen, coming off a 3-3 tie against Framingham State on Wednesday, are 3-0-1 in their last four games.

A pair of freshmen strikers, Shawn Shand (Keene, N.H.) and Joe Senecal (Manchaug, Mass.) leads Keene State in scoring with five goals each.  KSC must keep an eye on sophomore Bruno Costa, who has tallied seven goals for RIC so far this season.

"If we win tomorrow it's going to certainly give us the upper hand," but we still have a long way to go," Butcher said.

Rhode Island College defeated Keene State (1-0) for the first time in LEC play last year.  The Owl own a commanding 10-1-1 lead in the LEC series.  The two teams faced each other in the 2004 conference championship game with KSC winning 3-1.

The Keene State women's soccer team will host Rhode Island College on Saturday (1:30 p.m.).  The Owls (8-2, 2-0 LEC), who share the LEC lead with UMass-Boston, have won six out their last seven games.   RIC brings a 1-6, (0-2 LEC) record into the game.