WestConn soccer earn Little East title

PROVIDENCE, R.I.- The Western Connecticut State University men's soccer team is Little East Conference champions once again.

WestConn and Rhode Island College

battled to a 0-0 tie in the title game that was eventually decided by penalty kicks. After 90 minutes of regulation and two ten-minute overtime periods, penalty kicks were needed to decide the conference champion. Rhode Island scored on its first seven attempts, each time the Colonials answered with the equalizer. Rhode Island sophomore Matt Souto , who hadn't played in the game, took the eighth penalty kick for the Anchormen and his shot caught the crossbar. That opened the door for WestConn sophomore midfielder

Ryan Edgley , who beat sophomore goalkeeper Sean Gonsalves for the winner. WestConn senior midfielder Matt Cusack

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, who scored three goals with an assist in the Colonials', 4-1, win at top-seeded Keene State on Wednesday afternoon, was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2005 Little East Conference Men's Soccer Tournament. It is the second Little East Conference tournament championship for the Colonials in the past three seasons. Rhode Island lost in the championship for the second consecutive season and now awaits a potential ECAC New England Div. III Men's Soccer Tournament bid. The game goes down as a tie for both clubs. The Colonials are now 13-4-3, while RIC is 9-5-5. WestConn freshman goalkeeper Dan Michalowski was outstanding in net, making seven saves to earn his ninth shutout of the season. Gonsalves made two saves to earn his fourth shutout of the season. During the penalty kick shootout for RIC, freshman Josh Silva, junior Holman Giraldo , freshman Tyrell Burgess, senior Kyle Teixeira , sophomore Kyle Genereux , sophomore Julian Montoya and freshman Dan Soderberg all scored on their attempts. For Western Connecticut, junior Dan Tomas (Danbury), sophomore Keith Simone , Cusack, sophomore Mike Savenelli, junior Bradley Fidler, junior Anthony Fiondella , freshman Elliott Wangaard and Edgley each scored on their attempts.

WestConn (13-4-3)0 0 0 0 - 0

Rhode Island (9-5-5)0 0 0 0 - 0

SHOTS :WestConn 9, Rhode Island 17. SAVES: Daniel Michalowski (W) 7. Sean Gonsalves (RI) 2. CORNER KICKS: WestConn 3, Rhode Island 6.