DANBURY, Conn. - Three different Wolves netted goals and rookie goalkeeper Makai Smith (Bridgeport, Conn.) came up with a trio of stellar saves to propel the Western Connecticut State University men's soccer team to a 3-2 victory over visiting league foe Keene State College on Saturday afternoon on Senior Day at the Westside Athletic Complex. With the win, WestConn captured the Little East Conference regular season title, finishing the slate at 12-5-3 overall and 8-0 in league play. The Wolves earned the top seed and a first round bye in the upcoming LEC Championship Tournament scheduled to begin next week. The Owls finished the regular season at 8-6-2 and 2-4-1.

The visitors appeared to tally the first goal of the game. However, the ball that found the back of the net was called back due to an offside player. WestConn broke the ice 20:09 into the first half when senior forward Maximus Vigo (Canton, Mich.) booted a low liner that skipped into the twine for his sixth goal of the season. Smith made a trio of highlight reel worthy saves to keep the Owls off the board. One deflected off his hand and knocked off the crossbar before the defense was able to gain possession and fire the ball away. The Wolves would hold the 1-0 advantage at the break.

The teams combined to can four goals in a wild second half. Keene State evened the count at 1-1 in the 55th minute when fifth-year backer Damir Hamzic (Manchester, N.H.) headed a corner kick feed from sophomore Jack Corby (Plymouth, Mass.) across the goal line. WestConn regained the advantage in the 72nd minute when rookie midfielder Matthews Rocha (Danbury, Conn.) gathered a pass from junior midfielder Jeffrey Norales (Bronx, N.Y.) and tickled the twine for his seventh marker of the season. Moments later, sophomore midfielder Nickolas Santana (New Haven, Conn.) - currently ranked among the top scorers in Division III - notched his 18th goal of the year, widening the gap to 3-1.

The Owls would not quit and cut the deficit to 3-2 less than one minute later when senior midfielder Elias Stowell-Aleman (Proctorsville, Vt.) fired home his first goal of the campaign. Shortly thereafter, the Owls netted what appeared to be the equalizer. A WestConn defender booted the ball out after it seemed to just make it across the stripe. However, that play was also given an offside call. The Wolves would hold on to finish the conference schedule undefeated. 

The Wolves - ranked eighth in the latest regional poll - will get some time to regroup and practice before they host an LEC semifinal matchup next week.