(Box Score)

            PLYMOUTH, N.H. - Junior Jose Ruiz (Providence, R.I.) scored the only goal of the game with six minutes left in the first half Saturday afternoon and Rhode Island College went on to defeat Plymouth State University, 1-0, in a Little East Conference men's soccer match at Panther Field.

            RIC, which defeated Plymouth State in last year's LEC championship game by the same score, improves to 3-1 in conference play and 5-5-2 overall, while PSU drops to 1-3 in the LEC and 7-5 overall.

            It was a defensive battle at chilly Panther Field, as much of the game was played in the midfield area.  The home team had a slight 6-5 advantage in shots in the first half, but the only goal came from RIC.  Senior Ryan Kelley (Hope, R.I.) sent a long cross into the box, and Ruiz headed in home for a 1-0 lead.

            That turned out to be all the scoring as neither team was able to find the net in the second half.  PSU got only three shots off while the Anchormen took only two shots but held on for the win.

            Both goalkeepers, RIC junior Helder Faustino (Warwick, R.I.) and PSU freshman Bjorn Ohlsson (Halmstad, Sweden), finished with three saves.  Faustino posted his second shutout of the season.

            RIC returns to action Wednesday at Salem State (6:00 p.m.), while PSU is off until next Saturday when it visits UMass Dartmouth (1:00 p.m.) 

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