Box Score WILLIMANTIC, Conn. -- Sophomore midfielder Arman Karbassioon's (Cheshire) first career game-winning goal helped the Eastern Connecticut State University men's soccer team extend its Little East Conference unbeaten streak to 13 with a 1-0 victory over Keene State College Saturday afternoon at Thomas Nevers Field.
At right: Nevers Nation provided the Warriors with their 12th Man Saturday (Photo by Nick Aconfora)
Eastern (6-1-1, 2-0-0 LEC) posted its fourth consecutive shutout when Karbassioon beat Keene State (2-7-0, 1-1-0 LEC) keeper Malcolm Cheney in the 76th minute with a shot from the right side of the box for the only goal of the match. Sophomore back Zane Lombardo (Portland) ignited the scoring play with a cross from the left side of the field into the box to freshman midfielder Ryan Pomroy (Ivoryton). Pomroy gave it of to senior midfielder Mitch Power (Douglas, MA), who set up Karbassioon's first goal of the season. A week ago, Karbassioon set up the only goal of the match in Eastern's conference-opening overtime win here over Western Connecticut by blasting a 25 yard drive which rebounded to freshman forward Nicholas Warren (Southbury) for the game-ending score.
Two-time conference champion Eastern, ranked No. 10 in New England, has gone 13 conference matches without a loss (12-0-1). In that stretch, Keene forged a 1-1 double overtime tie with the visiting Warriors in last year's regular season.
Eastern freshman keeper Greg Walton (Brunswick, ME) posted his fifth shutout in eight starts – fourth in a row and -- consecutive shutout, making five saves as the six-time LEC champion Owls were shut out for the fourth time this year but for the first time in the last five matches. Walton's last three shutouts have come at home and all but 1-0 scores. He lowered his goals-against average to 0.63 and has given up more than one goal only once this year.
In five home matches this year, Eastern has surrendered but one goal.
Eddie Mercer and Nick Godzyk combined for six of Keene's ten shots, each forcing Walton to come up with saves twice.
Following Karbassioon's goal, only Godzyk managed a shot by either team, with Walton coming up with his final save of the match on the bid.
Cheney also made five stops for Keene, which has lost fie times this season to regionally-ranked teams.
Eastern hosts Saint Joseph's College (ME) Wednesday at 4 p.m.
