The Keene State men’s soccer team hosted UMass-Boston on Saturday Oct. 7, in a close 2-1 matchup. The Owls ended up besting the Beacons and moving up to the top of the Little East Conference Standings with a record of 7-3-1, 4-0-1 LEC.
At ten minutes, UMass pressured KSC’s goal by UMass’s Gabriel Meireles and Ryan Lima, but KSC’s goalie Regan Racicot was able to save both shots one after another. KSC responded with four foul calls being called on three of their players in the span of five minutes.
UMass ended up being the first team to score at minute 37:06 of the first quarter. Keene retaliated 40 seconds later by passing the ball up the field and fighting with UMass’s defense until senior Mbambi Mbungu flicked it into the side of the goal, making it his tenth goal of the season and bringing the score to a 1-1 tie where it remained for the rest of the half.
KSC and UMass kept going back and forth in the second half, until sophomore Rahul Drukpa, after following a pass into the middle and taking UMass’s goalie one on one, bringing the score up 2-1 Keene.
UMass ended up shooting five more times, three of them going wide, one blocked and another saved by Racicot. Keene ended the game with seven shots on goal, and UMass ended with nine. KSC’s Racicot had eight total saves and UMass’s goalie Victor Reyes ended with five. KSC is now at the top of the LEC conference with UMass following behind in third.
Keene State will play their rival Plymouth on Wednesday Oct. 11.
Molly Lu McKellar can be contacted
at mmckellar@kscequinox.com
