Cougars are outshot 22-12 by Warriors but get brilliant goalkeeping
UNION, N.J. - Kean University got production from unexpected sources to shut out men's
soccer, 2-0, in an inter-regional matchup Monday night.
For Kean (6-5-3), sophomore keeper Brian Haines was brilliant in only his third start of the season in place of junior Alfredo Oquendo, and freshman Abner Denis scored the first two goals of his career as the Cougars gained revenge for their 3-1 loss to Eastern (8-4-1) last year at Thomas Nevers Field.
Haines made ten saves in all, at least four of them outstanding ones as the Warriors were shut out for only the second time this year. Haines lowered his goals-against average to 0.36 in four appearances this year. Haines also got help from his defenders, with one clearing the ball off the goal line on a bid by Eastern freshman back Jon DeCasanova (Glastonbury).
Playing its fourth straight road game, Eastern had shut out its opponent in its previous two outings and in three of its last four. The Warriors had traveled to Portland, ME two days ago for a 2-0 Little East Conference win over the University of Southern Maine.
Both of Kean's goals came on counter-attacks, with Denis finishing off one scoring chance midway through the first half and another nine minutes into the second half.
For the third straight match, Eastern held a sizable advantage in both shots and corner kicks. The Warriors outshot the Cougars 22-12 and did not allow a corner kick, recording a dozen of their own. In the last three matches, Eastern has outshot its opponent nearly 3-to-1 and has a 32-3 advantage in corner kicks.
"We possessed well and created chance after chance after chance," noted third-year head coach Greg DeVito. "We had at least 3-4 great chances, but (Haines) was really quick and made two great saves in each half. But I'll give our kids a lot of credit. We never quit. We were just a little bit unlucky."
Eastern all-region senior forward Maxim Fantl (West Hartford), the team leader with nine goals and 21 points, took seven of Eastern's shots, with Haines saving all four that were on net. Fantl needs one career point to become the program's first 100-point achiever in 18 years.
Eastern hosts Rhode Island College in a Little East Conference match Sunday at 1 p.m.
Kean U. 2, Eastern Conn. 0
Eastern Conn. (8-4-1) 0 0 -- 0
Kean U. (6-5-3) 1 1 -- 2
Scoring: Abner Denis (Guilherme Argollo) 26:26; Denis (Michael Custidiano) 53:39.
Shots: E-22, K-12; Saves: E-Carl Appel 2 (2 goals allowed, 60:14 min.), Jordan Munsell 0 (0, 29:46); K-Brian Haines 10.
Corner kicks: E-12, K-0.
