WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - The #24 nationally-ranked Monmouth University men's soccer team got all the offense it needed in the first half, scoring all three goals in a 3-0 nonconference win over Delaware in a steady rain on The Great Lawn on Friday afternoon. The Hawks improve to 4-0 on the season while the Blue Hens fall to 1-3 on the year.
Monmouth freshman Ryan Clark (Freehold, N.J./Freehold Township) enjoyed a coming out party in the contest, scoring his first collegiate goal and adding an assist in the contest. The newcomer scored his first career goal at the 10:24 mark when he collected the ball at the top of the box and laced a left-footed shot into the far upper 90.
Less than three minutes later, junior Ryan Kinne (Naugatuck, Conn./Naugatuck) played the ball into the box from the right wing where sophomore RJ Allen (Old Bridge, N.J./St. Joseph's) settled it and sent it over to sophomore George Quintano (Manalapan, N.J./Manalapan), who beat the keeper one touch. The assist is Allen's third of the season, while Quintano's goal was his first of the year and the third of his career.
The Blue and White added another first half goal at the 34:19 mark when Clark played the ball to sophomore Christian Nogueira (Kearny, N.J./Kearny) on an overlapping run, who then one-timed a cross to junior Chase Barbieri (Hillsborough, N.J./Hillsborough), who headed the ball far post. The tally is Barbieri's second of the season and 14th of the junior's career, while Nogueira's assist is the defender's first collegiate point.
Delaware keeper Conrad Rusnak kept the contest at 3-0 when he made a foot save on a Kinne shot two minutes later. The Blue Hens' best chance for a score came with 15 minutes left in the match when Kyle Ellis laced a shot from 20 yards out that went wide left. Then, with 2:30 left in the contest, Ben Rodkey played the ball in to the box for UD, but Demar Stephenson's header skimmed off the far post.
MU keeper Bryan Meredith (Scotch Plains, N.J./Scotch Plains-Fanwood) made one save for the win, his 17th career triumph and the 13th shutout of the junior's career.
The Hawks outshot Delaware 19-3, including 11-1 in the first half. MU also had seven corner kicks, compared to one for the Blue Hens.
#24 Monmouth returns to action on Sunday when they host American at 1:00 pm on The Great Lawn.
