WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - The Monmouth University men's soccer team netted two goals in the opening 10 minutes of play, en route to a 3-0 victory over NJIT on Tuesday afternoon, on The Great Lawn. The victory improves the Hawks to 5-2-2 on the season, as Monmouth has now registered six shutouts on the year. NJIT falls to 1-8-0 on the season.

Monmouth freshman Chase Barbieri (Hillsborough, N.J./Hillsborough) was on the receiving end of a Chris Riordan (Ossining, N.Y./Iona Prep) cross from the left-flank endline for the Hawks' opening tally just 1:40 into the contest. Riordan worked the ball to the line and found Barbieri in the box for the one-timer, his second goal of the year. Barbieri's goal was the fastest score for Monmouth since the 2006 NEC Tournament semifinal victory over Robert Morris, when NSCAA Third-Team All-America Steven Holloway netted a goal 1:55 into the contest.

From just inside midfield, junior defender Angelo Amato (Livingston, N.J./Montclair Kimberly Academy) found a streaking Damon Wilson (Swedesboro, N.J./St. Andrew's) at the top of the box for the Blue and White's second goal of the afternoon, at the 9:26 mark. Wilson beat the NJIT goalkeeper Collin Cunning for his fourth score of the season.

Monmouth made the score 3-0 in the 77th minute, when Tom Gray (Middletown, N.J./Middletown South) corralled a clearance, after an MU cross into the box, and beat Cunning into the right netting for his fifth marker.

Monmouth held a 14-2 advantage in shots, and a 10-2 edge in corner kicks. Cunning was forced to make four saves for the Highlanders, while freshman Bryan Meredith (Scotch Plains, N.J./Scotch Plains-Fanwood) posted his first collegiate shutout, in his first career start, making no saves for the Hawks.

Monmouth returns to action on Saturday, October 6, when the Hawks open Northeast Conference play with a 2 p.m. match against Mount St. Mary's on The Great Lawn.