PLYMOUTH, N.H. - Junior Kyle Bedini (Manchester, Conn.) converted a penalty kick in the second overtime Saturday afternoon to lift Eastern Connecticut State University to a 2-1 victory over Plymouth State University in the Little East Conference men's soccer opener for both schools at Panther Field.

           After a scoreless first half, the teams traded goals about two minutes apart early in the second half. Senior Keith Whittemore (Holderness, N.H./Plymouth Regional) took a crossing pass from sophomore Tim Allan (Harleysville, Pa.) and chipped the ball past the goalkeeper in the 52nd minute to put PSU on the board. Eastern senior Rukevwe Ehwarieme (Norwich, Conn.) took a through-ball from sophomore Maxim Fantl (West Hartford, Conn.) two minutes later and slipped one past the PSU keeper to even the match at 1-1.

          Plymouth State out-shot Eastern 13-8 in the second half, but it remained 1-1 until Bedini won it for the Warriors in the 104th minute.

          Senior keeper Jay Barney (Mansfield, Conn.) finished with nine saves and earned the victory in the Warrior goal. Junior Tyler Shute (Deerfield, N.H.) made six saves for the Panthers.

          PSU, 1-2-1 overall and 0-1 in conference play, visits Keene State next Saturday at 1:00 p.m. Eastern returns home to host New York University Sunday at 1:00 pm. in a non-conference affair.

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