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            KEENE, N.H. -- The Keene State College men's soccer team scored twice in each half en route to a 4-1 victory over the University of Southern Maine in a Little East Conference match Saturday afternoon at the Owls Athletic Complex.

            With the win, the Owls captured the LEC regular season title for the second straight year and the top seed in next week's four-team, single-elimination tournament.  The Owls, 12-4-2 overall and 6-0-1 in conference play, take a four-match winning streak into the tournament semifinal against the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth on Wednesday.  UMD earned the final berth, jumping over USM with its 3-1 win against Western Connecticut State University.

            The Huskies, needing a win Saturday to ensure a playoff berth, conclude their season 4-12-2 overall and 3-4-0 in LEC play.

            Senior Nick Johnson (South Portland, Maine) gave USM an early 1-0 lead collecting an unassisted goal in the 17th minute of play.  The goal was the Johnson's fifth of the season.

            The Owls needed less than two minutes to gain the equalizer as rookie Tom Izykowski (Rexford, N.Y.) headed home a cross from junior Kevin Gomes (Halifax, Mass.) for his first career goal.

            Senior Brian Holmes (Sharon, Mass.) netted what proved to be the game-winning goal in the 33rd minute knocking in a cross from sophomore Kyle Leavitt (Plymouth, Mass.).

            The Owls put the game away with two second-half markers.  Sophomore Nick Greenwood (Peterborough, N.H.) made it 3-1 in the 64th minute, and senior Matt Johnson (Walpole, N.H.) tallied the final goal in the 84th minute.

            Junior Paul Blackmer (Boylston, Mass.) and senior Tom Conran (South Windsor, Conn.) played in goal for Keene State, and neither recorded a save as the Owls held a 21-5 advantage in shots.  Senior David Kreps (Agawam, Mass./Wilbraham & Monson) registered four saves in 85-plus minutes before giving way to sophomore Jeremy Turner (Portland, Maine/Deering).  Turner did not have a save.

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