BOSTON, Mass. - With 1:37 left to play in the fourth overtime, Luke Murphy ended what was the longest played Little East Conference championship game in history to lift UMass Boston to a 7-6 win over Keene State College in the championship game of the 2022 LEC Tournament Saturday afternoon at James Cotter Field.

THE BASICS
UMass Boston 7, Keene State College 6 (4OT)

UMass Boston (17-2)
Keene State College (12-5)

HOW IT HAPPENED
Murphy would score the game-winner to give the Beacons their second-straight LEC title off of a pass from Gavin Admirand. Murphy fired the ball to the upper corner beating Keene State's Chase Chamberlin. Christian Meinhold was named the Tournament's Most Outstanding Player after making a program record 23 saves in an LEC Championship game. With the win the Beacons secured the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament. The Beacons will find out who they will be facing in this year's tournament tomorrow evening at 9 pm on the NCAA.com Selection Show.

In the deciding frame Keene State gained the early momentum by winning the face-off. They would rattle off a pair of shots, only one of which needed to be stopped by Meinhold. The Beacons would then force a key KSC turnover, with Meinhold sending the ball down the field for the quick counter attack.
 
Once the Beacons successfully cleared the ball, head coach Tyler Low called timeout to get his offense squared away.
 
It would take 21 seconds out of that timeout for the Murphy to score the biggest goal of his career.
 
Saturday's match-up was truly a showcase of the two netminders. Meinhold and his Keene State counterpart each tallied 23 stops as they quarterbacked their respective teams.
 
UMass Boston never trailed in the contest, as they held a slim lead through most of the second half. Keene State, who was held scoreless in the third, scored back-to-back goals in the fourth to tie the affair at 6-6.
 
The Beacons did have their chances to end the contest in regulation,but were turned away on every attempt. Keene State's tying goal came in the final minute of regulation, which gave the Owls the momentum heading into overtime.
 
Keene State nearly clinched the victory less than seconds into the OT, but the goal was called back due to a crease violation. That call would change the course of the overtime periods, as the two rivals waited for the other to make a crucial mistake.
 
That mistake would come in the fourth, when a Keene State defenders pole broke in half. Down a player, the Beacons jumped at the opportunity as Admirand found Murphy wide open ready to take the shot, which he hit perfectly.
 
The hero of Thursday's semi-final win over Mass. Maritime Academy Charlie Chapman had another standout performance for the Beacons attack as he led all players with three goals.
 
BY THE NUMBERS

• UMass Boston has now won back-to-back Little East Conference Regular Season and Tournament championships for the first time in program history
• Saturday's contest marked the second meeting between UMB and KSC in the title game, the first came in 2017
• The Beacons were making their fourth LEC Championship match appearance (2000, 2017, 2021-22)
• Meinhold improved to 3-1 on the year with the victory; His 23 saves were a career-best
• The Beacons led 54-44 in total shots, while the two teams were even in shots on goal at 30 a-piece
• UMass Boston finished 34-for-38 on clear attempts, while Keene State was 37-for-41
• Keene State held a 41-28 advantage in ground balls
• Neither team scored a man-up or man-down goal in the contest
• The Beacons are now 2-2 all-time in LEC Championship games
• Saturday marked the first time in program history that the Beacons have defeated Keene State in both the regular season and in the conference tournament

 
WHO'S NEXT
The Beacons will find out who they are facing tomorrow at 9 pm on the NCAA selection show, which can be watched live at NCAA.com.