PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Rhode Island College junior midfielder Ryan Kelley (Hope, R.I.) headed in the game’s only goal in the 87th minute to give the second-seeded Anchormen a 1-0 win over fourth-seeded Plymouth State in the Championship Game of the 2008 Little East Conference Men’s Soccer Game.

Rhode Island College (12-5-4), which was making its third appearance in the conference title contest, wins the tournament for the first time in school history and earns the program’s first NCAA Division III Men’s Soccer Tournament berth. The Anchormen will find out their opponent when the NCAA announces the brackets on Monday, Nov. 10 at 9 a.m. Rhode Island College will either play on Wednesday, Nov. 12 or Friday, Nov. 14.

It was a very competitive game, which looked to be heading for overtime late in the second half. Junior defender Kory Pacheco (Dartmouth, Mass.) intercepted a Panther (8-9-3) clear and lofted a pass that Kelley headed over the outstretched hands of Plymouth State senior goalkeeper Tyler Shute (Deerfield, N.H.) for the decisive marker.

Pacheco, who helped hold visiting senior forward Semir Mehmedovic (Concord, N.H.), as well as Eastern Connecticut junior forward Maxim Fantl (East Hartford, Conn.) in Wednesday’s semifinal game, without a goal was named the 2008 Little East Conference Men’s Soccer Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. Both players are among the top offensive threats in the conference circuit.

The Anchormen's 12 wins equals the 2005 edition’s total for the second most in a single season in program history. Rhode Island College needs one additional win to tie the 1973 squad’s all-time mark.

Freshman goalkeeper Justin O’Connor (North Kingstown, R.I.) made eight stops to earn his eighth shutout of the year, needing just one more to tie the program record for the most in a season. Shute made five saves in a losing effort.

Rhode Island College has not lost to the Panthers in their last nine meetings, holding a 7-0-2 mark. 

Kelley’s goal in the 87th minute snapped a streak of 197 minutes of scoreless action between the two clubs this fall. RIC and PSU battled to a 0-0 double overtime tie on Oct. 18. This afternoon’s game was much closer than the previous meeting. The Anchormen held a seven-shot advantage (20-13), compared to a 31-5 margin three weeks ago.

                                                           

                                                                 -end-