WILLIMANTIC, Conn. – Freshman midfielder Nicholas Warren (Southbury) scored on a rebound just 40 seconds into sudden-death overtime for the only goal as the Eastern Connecticut State University men's soccer team withstood upset-minded Western Connecticut State University in the Little East Conference opener for both programs Saturday afternoon at Thomas Nevers Field.

Two-time defending conference champion Eastern (4-1-1, 1-0-0 LEC) got the game-winner less than a minute into overtime to extend its unbeaten record against Western (2-5-0, 0-1-0 LEC) to eight (6-0-2) since a 1-0 home loss to the Colonials in 2005.

The winning play originated when freshman forward Kyle Peterson (Ivoryton) sent a crossing pass from the left to unmarked sophomore midfielder Arman Karbassioon (Cheshire) at the top of the box. Karbassioon rifled a booming shot directly at Western sophomore keeper Bobby Strevel. Strevel punched the shot away from the goal, where Warren cleaned it up from close range with his second game-winning goal in two weeks. Against visiting Bridgewater State University in the team's home-opener, Warren's first career goal with 2:13 left in regulation sent the Warriors to an identical 1-0 victory.

Following a scoreless first half, Eastern had the better of play – just missing on two prime bids -- but could not break through in the second stanza.

Warren nearly put the Warriors in front with 13 minutes left when a misdirected Western cross in its own zone landed at the foot of Warren, whose 18-yard ground ball shot was fired right at Strevel.

Four minutes after Warren's chance,  freshman back Emmanuel Caicedo (Manchester) got a head on the ball and re-directed it from the left of the box to senior midfielder Mitch Power (Douglas, MA). Power volleyed it to freshman midfielder Ryan Pomroy (Ivoryton), whose low drive in traffic headed toward the right post was turned aside by a diving Strevel to keep the game scoreless.

Freshman keeper Greg Walton (Brunswick, ME) recorded his third shutout (second straight) in his last four starts. Walton was protected by a strong Eastern starting backfield of Caicedo and senior starters Luke Capezzone (Colchester), Carl Stensland (Storrs) and Christopher Giustina (Enfield) in lowering his goals-against average to 0.84. Giustina, a team captain, made his first appearance this year since knee surgery.

Ranked tenth in New England, Eastern has not lost since a 3-0 verdict to Widener University in the 2013 opener. The Warriors are  unbeaten (2-0-1) in overtime this year and have lost only four of 27 overtime tilts (12-4-11) under seventh year head coach Greg DeVito.

Eastern hosts Salem State University Tuesday at 4 p.m. in a non-conference match.