After losing to Amherst in the regular season 1-0, Keene State retaliated in the first round of the regional postseaon tournament, eliminating the Jeffs.
Amherst was not expecting this game to be difficult and Keene State took advantage of that. The Jeffs seemed to be distracted by their controversial 2-0 loss to the Williams College Ephs in the NESCAC Tournament, and the Jeffs were never able to mount an attack.
The Jeffs received a bid to the ECAC Tournament after they fell to the Ephs. ECACs consist of the eight best teams in the region that did not make NCAA's.
Keene State scored in each half. Keene freshman Matt Lam scored their first goal, knocking it in 24 minutes into the game off a throw-in from the right corner.
In the 55th minute, Keene State forward Phil DaRosa received a pass from forward Peter Peralta and shot it in from the left side of the box.
Keene State goalie David Nordmark had an outstanding game, deflecting numerous shots. Nordmark made a particularly exceptional play in the second half when Franklin Perry '04 sent a shot from the top of the penalty box, which Nordmark knocked away.
Co-captain Jud Coplan '01, a midfielder, jumped on the rebound and sent another shot on net, but Nordmark was able to make a second astounding save. Nordmark finished the game with 10 saves.
Amherst goalie Bill Orum '02 also played a solid game, finishing with five saves.
"We didn't finish on our chances," said Tim Canon '04. "There were a lot of opportunities we couldn't finalize." The Jeffs finished their season with a record of 8-7-2.
The men's soccer team received multiple honors for their strong showing this season. Perry was recently named the NESCAC Men's Soccer Rookie of the Year. Teammates Ryan Goodband '02 and Dave Michener '02 received All-NESCAC honors.
Perry was the leading scorer among first-year NESCAC players and ninth overall in the conference. He led the Jeffs with eight goals and 17 points on the season.
Goodband received second-team All-NESCAC honors as a sophomore, and this year he made the first team. Goodband was the Jeffs' best defender even while battling an injury, and he added two goals on the season.
Michener was a second-team All-NESCAC pick for the second straight season.
Michener had six goals this season, including the game-winning goal against Keene State on Sept. 12. He was also responsible for both goals against Tufts on Sept. 27 in a 2-0 conference win.