Kombe Scores Lone Worcester Goal as Lancers Fall to Owls

Sophomore Juma Kombe (Leominster, Mass.) scored his third goal of the season, but the Worcester State men's soccer team suffered a 5-1 defeat to Keene State in non-conference action on Wednesday evening at Dr. Ron Butcher Field.

Kombe put the Lancers on the board in the 57^th minute, scoring an unassisted goal by finding the low right corner.

By that point, however, the Owls had already seized control of the game, taking a 4-0 lead into the halftime break behind two goals from Michael Mullen (Sunapee, N.H.).

Mullen doubled Keene's lead at the half hour mark after Clinton Mungeta (Concord, N.H.) had given the hosts a lead when he beat Andy Ramirez (Waltham, Mass.) in the 14^th minute. Denis Fleming (Pearl River, N.Y.) earned the first of his two assists on that goal for Keene.

Mullen made it 4-0 at the break when Declan Coughlin (Rome, Italy) controlled a Worcester State goal kick and fed him the ball near midfield. Mullen beat Dylan Ruberti (Westborough, Mass.) and the clock, finding the back of the net from far out with just five seconds left before half.

Nicholas Dalesio (Portsmouth, N.H.) and Vance Bates (Chatham, Mass.) also scored for Keene, who had a 22-4 edge in shots, 9-3 in shots on goal and 4-1 in corner kick attempts.

Nate Howard (Manchester, Conn.) and Gavin Fitzpatrick (Manchester, N.H.) each played 45 minutes and Fitzpatrick made the only two saves of the night for the Owls.

Ramirez, Ruberti and Christian Packard (Windsor Locks, Conn.) combined to make four saves for the Lancers.

Worcester State (3-9-1) finishes their regular season on Friday evening when they head to Mass. Maritime for a 7:00 PM MASCAC contest.

The Owls (6-7-3) will finish their Little East Conference (LEC) schedule on Saturday against Rhode Island College.