WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - The Monmouth University men's soccer team defeated Seton Hall 1-0 on The Great Lawn on Tuesday afternoon to begin the 2009 season for each team. The win is the Hawks first over their in-state rival since 1985 and their third win all-time in the series.

"This is a good win for our program," said head coach Robert McCourt. "The boys worked hard for all 90 minutes and I am proud of the effort they put in to earn this result."

MU was able to notch the game-winner when sophomore RJ Allen (Old Bridge,N.J./St. Joseph's) collected the ball along right sideline and played it across towards the front of the net late in the second half. Junior Hermann Watch List member Chase Barbieri (Hillsborough, N.J./Hillsborough) came sliding in and finished the play in the 80th minute for his ninth career game-winning goal.

"I was in the right place at the right time," said Barbieri. "RJ made a great play to get to the ball and I was lucky enough to be in that position."

Monmouth controlled the match's tempo from the outset, earning a corner kick 16 seconds in to the match. The Hawks would go on to have five corners in the match, compared to one for the Pirates. MU outshot its BIG EAST foe 23-8, including 8-2 in shots on goal.

Keeper Bryan Meredith (Scotch Plains, N.J./Scotch Plains-Fanwood) made two saves for the shutout, the 12th of the junior's career.

Freshman Cody Calafiore (Howell, N.J./Howell) led the Hawks with six shots, while senior defender Daniel Bostock (Nottinghamshire, Eng./Virginia Intermont) took four shots in addition to supplying stellar defensive play.

MU returns to action on Friday when they travel to Connecticut for a 7:00 pm nonconference clash with Fairfield.