MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. - The Monmouth University men's soccer team, ranked seventh in the nation according to this week's NSCAA/adidas National Rankings, defeated Robert Morris 1-0 in Northeast Conference action on a rainy Friday afternoon in Western Pennsylvania. The Hawks, winners of five straight matches, improve to a program-best 13-0-1 overall and 5-0-1 in the league, while the Colonials fall to 2-12-2 and 2-3-2 in the conference. MU is now unbeaten in its last 10 regular season league matches dating back to last year and also established a new program record for consecutive shutouts with its eighth straight blanking.
"Today's match was a tough game that was played in torrential rain," said Monmouth head coach Robert McCourt. "Both teams struggled to possess the ball for long periods. Also, this is a tough trip and the guys responded well again to today's challenge."
Monmouth started the match fast in adverse weather conditions, hitting the post on an early shot attempt. The Hawks kept the pressure on, scoring the match's lone tally in the 30th minute on a free kick try from 30 yards out. The initial service was headed hard on net by junior Ryan Kinne (Naugatuck, Conn./Naugatuck), but RMU keeper Toba Bolaji reacted quickly to his left to make the initial save. The rebound, however, found MU defender Anthony Vazquez (Belford, N.J./Middletown North [St. John's]) standing alone 10 yards from net and he didn't miss shooting to the left side of the net for the goal. The marker is Vazquez's first in a Monmouth uniform, while the assist is Kinne's team-leading fifth helper of the season.
From there, the Hawks defense, which is ranked second in the nation in team goals-against-average, clamped down on the Colonials. MU held Robert Morris to three second half shots, including only one on goal, which was saved by keeper Bryan Meredith (Scotch Plains, N.J./Scotch Plains-Fanwood). The junior now has 22 career shutouts, including 11 this season.
The Hawks outshot RMU 12-5 in the match and held an 11-3 advantage corner kicks, including a 5-0 edge in the second half.
Monmouth is now on a program-best eight-match shutout streak, besting the previous mark set in 2006. MU has now kept the opposition off the scoreboard for the last 779:15 of game action, going all the way back to its 4-1 win over Cornell back on September 18. The Hawks' one goal allowed over its last 11 matches is a program-best, as well as its three goals allowed thru the season's first 14 matches.
The Blue and White return to action on Sunday when they conclude the NEC's Western Pennsylvania road swing by visiting Saint Francis (Pa.) at 1:00 pm.
