KEENE, N.H. – Keene State (1-0) overcame an early one goal deficit to defeat Nichols (0-1) in the second game of the Xara Soccer Classic by a score of 3-1 on Saturday in a non-conference men's soccer match at Owl Athletic Complex.

Nichols first-year forward Donny Whittle (Ellington, Conn.) broke down the left side and buried a shot into the far corner to give Nichols an early 1-0 lead at the 6:15 mark.

The Bison had several opportunities to add to its lead. Whittle hit the post and later KSC senior back Preston Ingram (Derby, Vt.) was able to clear the ball out of danger after Owl sophomore goalie Mike Ketterman (Monson, Mass.) was pulled out of position.

Owl junior Scott Douglas (East Greenwich, R.I.), who led the Little East in scoring with 14 goals last year, picked right up where he left off, scoring the Owls' first goal to tie the game 1-1 five minutes later. He beat two Bison defenders and put the past Nichols freshman goalie Alex Geas (Marblehead, Mass.) into the short side. 

Douglas scored his second goal and game-winner six minutes into the second half, dribbling to the left side and finding the corner of the net.

Freshman Rushane Kelley (Keene, N.H.) scored a key insurance goal for the Owls at the 71:41 mark. Taking a feed from senior Ian Ferguson (Millwood, N.Y), Kelley beat Geas to ball and put it into the open net for his first college goal.

Keene State outshot Nichols 22-14. Ketterman made three saves for the owls while Geas turned aside six shots for the Bison.

Day two of the Classic on Sunday will have Nichols taking on Ithaca College at noon and Keene State battling Brandeis at 2:30 p.m. 

Courtesy Keene State Athletics