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Lenge vs. RIC Quarterfinal
Landon Geis, Athletic Communications Student Employee
1
Rhode Island Col. RHODE IS (4-7-8)
1
Southern Me. SOUTHERN (5-4-11)
Rhode Island Col. RHODE IS
(4-7-8)
1
Final
1
Southern Me. SOUTHERN
(5-4-11)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 OT 1 OT 2 F
Rhode Island Col. RHODE IS 1 0 0 0 1
Southern Me. SOUTHERN 0 1 0 0 1

Game Recap: Men's Soccer | | Christina Cracolici, Director of Athletic Communications

2025 Little East Conference Tournament Quarterfinal: No. 3 Southern Maine 1, No. 6 RIC 1 – Rhode Island College Advances on PKs (3-1)


 
GORHAM, Maine   - Jason Liang converted his penalty kick in the shootout to help advance the sixth-seed Rhode Island College Anchormen to the semifinals of the 2025 Little East Conference Men's Soccer Championship Tournament. 
 
Third-seed University of Southern Maine Huskies battled the Anchormen to a 1-1 draw through regulation and two 10-minute overtime periods before falling in penalties 3-1.
 
The Records:
No. 6 Rhode Island College (4-7-7)
No. 3 Southern Maine (5-4-10)
 
Today's game marked the  59th meeting between Rhode Island College and the University of Southern Maine. RIC leads the series 33-16-10.  The Anchormen and the Huskies battled to a 1-1 draw in Providence during the 2025 regular season.
 
 
How It Happened:
  • Rhode Island College's Izaiah Karweh put the Anchormen on the board first scoring in the 23rd minute benefitting from an assist from Liang for his second goal of the season.  
  • The Huskies remained behind the Anchormen 1-0 through the first half despite outshooting RIC 8-3.  RIC goalkeeper Shane Merklein made one of his four saves of the game ni the first half, and the Anchormen defense cleared a ball off the line to prevent an equalizer.
  • RIC and Southern Maine were nearly equal in shots (9-8, RIC) in the second half, but the Huskies were able to put one on the scoreboard in the 71st minute as junior Exauce Lenge (Portland, Maine) scored his seven goal of the season with a far post shot. 
  • Both teams battled through regulation and in the overtime periods neither team mustered a shot on goal forcing the penalty shootout.
  • USM missed three of its four attempts while the Anchormen converted its first three capped by the Liang clincher.
 
The Goalkeepers:
RIC: Shane Merklein (2-3-4), 110:00, 1 GA, 4 Saves
SM: Gabe Wagner (3-4-8), 110:00, 1 GA, 9 Saves
 
 
Up Next:
The Huskies conclude their 2025 season.  Southern Maine hosted its first playoff game in 17 seasons by earning the no. 3 seed, and was making just its fifth overall appearance in the LEC playoffs.  The Huskies have qualified for the Little East tourney twice in head coach Jim Hopkins '01 three-season tenure.
 
           
 
-cac-
 
 
 
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