WILLIMANTIC, Conn. – All-New England Region forward Maxim Fantl (West Hartford) contributed to all of Eastern Connecticut State University’s goal by scoring two and assisting on one in leading the Warriors to a 3-1 inter-regional victory over Kean University Tuesday afternoon at Thomas Nevers Field.

Unranked in New England, Eastern (4-1-0) defeated Kean (4-3-1) in the first meeting between the programs since 1994. The Cougars are ranked No. 6 in the Metro Region. The win is the second over a regionally-ranked Metro Region team for Eastern in four days. Saturday, the Warriors edged homestanding Ramapo College, 1-0. The Roadrunners were rated eighth at the time, and are currently ranked ninth in the most recent NSCAA regional poll, released today.

A co-captain, Fantl scored on one-on-one situations twice, giving the Warriors a 1-0 lead in the 25th minute on a pass from senior back and co-captain Kyle Bedini (Manchester). After setting up junior forward Nicholas Boretti (Marshfield, Mass.) for the second goal of the match 12 minutes later, Fantl scored his team-leading third goal of the year to make it 3-0 when he chased down a pass from senior midfielder James Picarella (Brewster, N.Y.) and beat Kean sophomore keeper Alfredo Oquendo with a grond ball inside the far post.

Freshman keeper Carl Appel (West Windsor, N.J.), who stopped two penalty kicks in Saturday’s victory over Ramapo, made three saves over the first 77 minutes to extend his personal scoreless streak to 271 minutes and 17 seconds. Appel had recorded shutouts in his last two starts and has not given up a goal since allowed the second of two goals with 14:30 left in a 2-0 loss against Trinity Sept. 8. Appel was named the Little East Conference Goalkeeper-of-the-Week Monday.


Kean did not put a shot on Appel until six minutes had expired in the second half, but forced the keeper to make two saves in a period of 30 seconds in an effort to cut into Eastern’s 2-0 halftime lead. Kean broke through for its only goal against Eastern first-year junior keeper Rick Emery (Brewster, N.Y.) with 10 minutes left when freshman forward Sergio Marchuk scored on his only shot of the match.

Twenty-two of the 33 roster players are new this year for Kean, which was coming off a 5-0 loss to 2007 national semifinalist Messiah College Saturday. The road contest was the seventh in eight matches this season for the Cougars.

Eastern opens defense of its 2007 conference championship Saturday against visiting Plymouth State University at 1 p.m.