BABSON PARK, Mass.- Rhode Island College battled host Babson to a 0-0 tie through regulation and two overtime periods, then outdueled the Beavers, 3-1, on penalty kicks to advance in the 2008 NCAA Div. III Men's Soccer Tournament on Saturday afternoon at Hartwell-Rogers Field. 
  
Rhode Island College junior All-Little East forward Ryan Kelley (Hope, R.I.), freshman forward Bruno Costa (Pawtucket, R.I.) and senior All-Little East defender Josh Silva (Dartmouth, Mass.) scored for the Anchormen during the shootout, while Babson hit the crossbar twice. 

The Anchormen will face Stevens Institute, which defeated RPI (1-0), tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. at Babson. 
  
Freshman goalkeeper Justin O'Connor (North Kingstown, R.I.) made three saves to earn his ninth shutout of the season, tying the school record for the most in a single campaign.

Both teams had strong chances in an evenly-played first half, beginning when Babson junior Chris Morris (Shoreline, Wash.) headed a corner kick from junior Dan Fogarty (Brookline, N.H.) toward the upper right corner. However, O'Connor made a leaping save to tip the ball off the crossbar and out of bounds at 7:45.
 
RIC nearly grabbed the lead when a through ball glanced off the right post and was picked up by Babson rookie keeper Peter Crowley (Lexington, Mass.) at the 12-minute mark. Sophomore Jason Garcia (Providence, R.I.) then had a clean look from the top of the box at 30:37, but Crowley made a nice leaping save on his high shot.
 
The Anchormen posted a 7-3 shot advantage in the second half, including their best scoring chance of the game. With 27 minutes remaining in regulation, Kelley had his shot blocked by the Babson defense, with the rebound finding the foot of Costa on the right side of the goal mouth. However, Costa's point-blank bid was denied by an outstanding diving save from Crowley, keeping the contest scoreless.
 
Babson had a strong first overtime session, outshooting RIC by a count of 5-0. The Beavers' two best chances came when a free kick by senior co-captain Tim Winn (Sutton, Mass.) found its way through the visitors' defense and glanced off the right post at 91:45, and when Morris one-timed a shot over the crossbar from the top of the box at 97:30. RIC had the only shot attempt of the second overtime, but Costa's well-defended bid sailed over the crossbar at 102:20.
 
It is the eighth time Rhode Island College has gone to an extra session in 22 contests this fall. The Anchormen are currently 2-1-5 in overtime to go along with three scoreless deadlocks. Today's game marks the first time RIC has gone to penalty kicks since falling to Western Connecticut in the championship game of the 2005 Little East Conference Tournament.
 
It was a closely played game for the 110 minutes of regulation and overtime periods. RIC held a slight advantage in shots, 15-14, and corner kicks, 10-8.
 
Costa led the way with a team-high four shots, while Kelley and senior All-Little East midfielder Brandon Migliore (Coventry, R.I.) each had three.

RIC is currently 12-5-5 on the year, needing just one more victory to tie the 1973 edition's single-season school record. Babson ends its season with a 16-4-2 mark.
 
Crowley made three stops in the game.