Warriors score late goal to edge Panthers

            MANSFIELD, Conn. – Sophomore Jon DeCasanova (Glastonbury, Conn.) scored the only goal of the match with just over four minutes remaining in the second half Saturday evening as Eastern Connecticut State University edged Plymouth State University, 1-0, in Little East Conference men's soccer action and the regular season finale for both schools at the Mansfield Outdoor Complex.

            The victory gives Eastern Connecticut a 13-3-2 overall record  and second place in the LEC with a 5-1-1 record.  The upset-minded Panthers complete their disappointing season at 5-11-1 overall and 1-6 in conference play. Eastern Conn. will be the second seed in next week's LEC Tournament, and will host third-seeded Rhode Island College in a semifinal contest on Wednesday.

            The two goalkeepers, PSU sophomore Bjorn Ohlsson (Halmstad, Sweden) and ECSU junior Carl Appel (West Windsor, N.J.), kept zeroes on the scoreboard for the first 85 minutes.  Ohlsson finished with four saves for the game, while Appel made five stops, his last one coming with a minute to play on sophomore Joakim Martinsson (Halmstad, Sweden) that preserved the victory and the shutout.

            DeCasanova's winning goal came after a throw-in by freshman Tom Vear (Monson, Mass.).  DeCasanova's shot hit the left goal post and bounced in for his seventh goal of the season.

            Plymouth State finished with a 16-11 advantage in corner kicks, but could not get one past Appel and was blanked for the sixth time this season. 

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