KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) Following the games prior to the Keene State College men’s soccer contest starting, it became clear to the Owls that they had to win to make the Little East Conference tournament. Following KSC tying the contest up in the second half, the defense from Vermont State Castleton held the Owls out of the back of the net again as the Owls tied 1-1 and were eliminated from LEC postseason contention.
Records
  • Keene State: 8-6-3 (2-4-2 LEC)
  • Castleton: 6-10-2 (0-7-1 LEC)

How it Happened 

KSC outshot Castleton 11-3 over the opening 45 minutes of the contest, but the Owls were unable to take anything away from it as they were held scoreless in the opening half. The Owls nearly got on the board in the fifth minute, but Martin Lubunga’s shot rang off the scoreboard and out of the Spartans’ box. After Mateu Farre-Torres made a save on the first shot he saw in goal for the Owls, KSC returned on the attack soon after as they recorded six more shots and a pair of corner kicks over the next 25 minutes of action. Xander Berthiaume saved all three shots of the six that were on target to keep the Owls off the board late in the opening half. Then in the 39th minute, KSC was unable to cleanly clear the ball out of their box and it fell to Jacques Alfani, who buried a shot into the back of the net for the Spartans’ first lead in LEC action on the season. Berthiaume made another save with a few seconds remaining in the first half as Castleton took their lead into the half up 1-0.
KSC came out of the gates in the second half on the attack knowing their season was on the line. Following a save by Berthiaume, KSC was able to draw even in the 69th minute as Jack Corby sent a pass into the Spartans’ box, finding the foot of Luke Hartshorn who tallied his third goal in LEC play in his freshman season for the Owls. Over the next 10 minutes KSC continued to apply pressure, but of their five shots, only one reached the target, which Berthiaume saved again. Berthiaume came out of the goal numerous times over the course of the contest, challenging the Owls attack by punching the ball away or cutting off crossing attempts, but he was bailed out by his teammates in the closing minutes with a defensive save with five minutes remaining as the contest remained scoreless. Berthiaume did make one more save on Jack DiGiovanni’s shot with 4:26 remaining, but the rest of the way the Owls were unable to get it going to find that one more goal needed to keep their LEC season alive. On a late free kick in the closing seconds, KSC had all 11 on the field on the attack, as Farre-Torres had nothing to lose leaving the goal open; if KSC did not score, the season was over. DiGiovanni’s kick was sent into the Spartans’ box and no Owl was able to get a clear piece of it and the game ended in a 1-1 tie, ending LEC play for both teams on the 2025 season.
Inside the Box
  • KSC moves to 8-2-1 in the all-time series between the two teams, as the tie snaps the Owls five-game win streak against the Spartans where KSC outscored Castleton 18-5.
  • KSC had the clear advantage on the attack with the 23-4 shot advantage, 9-2 shot on goal advantage, and 6-2 corner kick lead.
  • Berthiaume made seven saves in net for the Spartans in the draw.
  • Lubunga led all participants with seven shots on the day with two being on target.
  • Castleton came into the contest without a point in LEC play and spoiled the Owls’ season with the 1-1 draw.
Up Next 

Keene State’s LEC season comes to an end with the draw. The Owls await possible selection to the ECAC tournament.
Castleton’s season ends with one point in the LEC standings due to the tie from today and finishes last in the LEC.