FAIRFIELD, Conn. - The #10-nationally ranked Monmouth University men's soccer team played Sacred Heart to a 0-0 double overtime tie to kick off Northeast Conference play on Friday afternoon at Campus Field. MU now moves to 8-0-1, furthering the program's record unbeaten streak to begin the season, while the Pioneers are now 3-3-1. The match marked MU's first overtime contest of the season.

"This was a difficult conference match at a very tough place to play in Sacred Heart," said head coach Robert McCourt. "They made it very difficult for us today, they deserve full credit." 

Neither team was able to register a goal in 110 minutes of action as the Hawks outshot SHU 17-13 in the game, including 9-2 in shots on goal.

MU's stingy defense, consisting of senior Daniel Bostock (Nottinghamshire, Eng./Virginia Intermont), junior Anthony Vazquez (Belford,N.J./Middletown North [St. John's]) and sophomores RJ Allen (Old Bridge, N.J./St. Joseph's) and Christian Nogueira (Kearny, N.J./Kearny), helped shut down the Pioneers in the contest. The defense helped keeper Bryan Meredith (Scotch Plains, N.J./Scotch Plains-Fanwood) register his sixth shutout of the season, and the 17th of the junior's career. Meredith made two saves in goal in the match, while Sacred Heart keeper Alex Fait made nine saves.

The Blue and White's offense was led by junior Ryan Kinne (Naugatuck, Conn./Naugatuck) and Allen, who each fired three shots. Allen and freshman Ryan Clark (Freehold, N.J./Freehold Township) each had two shots on goal in the match.

The Hawks defense continued its smothering play, improving on a few of its national rankings against SHU. Monmouth came into the match as the sixth ranked defense in the nation in both goals against average (0.38 goals allowed per game) and shutout percentage (63%).

Monmouth returns to action on Sunday when they visit Fairleigh Dickinson for a 1:00 pm match.