Providence, R.I.--Senior goalkeeper Charlie Tashjian (West Warwick, R.I.) made five saves to establish a new program record for career shutouts (19), while senior midfielder Sa-Leem Kamarah (Providence, R.I.) scored twice, as No. 4-seeded Rhode Island College blanked No. 5-seeded Keene State, 3-0, in first round action of the 2021 Little East Men's Soccer Championship on Tuesday evening at Alumni Field.
 
THE BASICS
Rhode Island College 3, Keene State 0
Rhode Island College (11-6-1)
Keene State (6-8-4)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
• RIC sophomore midfielder Larry Garcia (Central Falls, R.I.) had a shot that was stopped by Keene State's graduate goalkeeper Nate Howard (Manchester, Conn.) in the 11^th minute. The ball squibbed away from Howard after his diving effort. Kamarah gained possession just inside the top of the box and notched what proved to be the game-winning goal with his fourth strike of the season.
 
• In the 26^th  minute, RIC graduate defender James Petrella (Willington, Conn.) threw a ball in from the far sideline, which glanced off the head of senior forward Jonathan Oliveira (Providence, R.I.) right to a streaking Kamarah, who then outraced the Keene defense and scored his fifth of the campaign to give the hosts a two-goal, 2-0, advantage.
 
• The half came to a close with RIC leading in shots, 11-4. Each team attempted one corner kick through the first 45 minutes of play.
 
• In the 55^th minute, The Anchormen's defense had one of their most impressive defensive stands of the season. KSC senior defender Benny Tamzarian (Manchester, N.H.) had a shot that was deflected by Tashjian. Keene then tried to tap the ball into the open net from point blank range, but freshman defender Edgardo Cardona (Cranston, R.I.) halted the ball from crossing the goal line and the defense eventually cleared the ball out of harm's way.
 
• Cardona then struck on offense when a corner kick, initiated by Oliveria in the 65^th minute, was struck out to sophomore midfielder Anthony Recinos (Providence, R.I.) at the top of the box. Recinos launched a pass in from 25-yards out, which was controlled by Cardona, who then fired a bullet past Howard for his first career goal.
 
BY THE NUMBERS
• Tashjian earned his 10^th victory of the season (10-6-1).
 
• Howard dropped to 4-2-2 on the season, making seven saves in the process.
 
• The Anchormen were 0-3 vs the Owls in the past 10 seasons when they met in the playoffs.
 
• This is the second time in four days that these two squads have clashed as they battled to a double-overtime scoreless draw in the regular season finale on Oct. 30.
 
 WHAT'S NEXT
In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will travel to No. 1-seeded Eastern Connecticut on Thursday, Nov. 4.