PRINCETON, N.J. - The Monmouth University men's soccer team, ranked 19thnationally, won its seventh straight match to open the 2009 season, 1-0 at Princeton in the final game of the Tigers' Invitational on Sunday afternoon at Roberts Stadium. The Hawks run their record to 7-0-0 for the first time in school history, while also handing Princeton its first loss of the season, dropping the Tigers to 4-1. The Hawks won both of their matches at the Princeton Invitational on the weekend, topping the host Tigers and also defeating Cornell 4-1 on Friday.
"This was another big win on the road for us, "said Monmouth head coach Robert McCourt. "We created some good goal scoring chances in the first half and then we defended our lead well in the second half. Princeton is a good team with a wonderful facility. To be able to go there and win this tournament is a huge positive for us."
MU was able to tally the match's only score early on when junior Drew Von Bargen (Medford, N.J./Shawnee) scored his first collegiate goal in the sixth minute of the match. Classmate Ryan Kinne (Naugatuck, Conn./Naugatuck) sent a cross in from just outside the 18 yard box and Von Bargen hit a clean shot, beating Princeton keeper Sean Lynch to the left, for the game-winner.
The goal represents Von Bargen's first point since he tallied an assist in Monmouth's 2-1 league victory against Saint Francis (Pa.) on October 10, 2008, while the assist is Kinne's third of the season and the 10th of his career.
From there, the Hawks stellar defense stymied Princeton, which came in to the match receiving votes in this week's NSCAA/adidas National Rankings. MU keeper Bryan Meredith (Scotch Plains, N.J./Fanwood) made four saves in net to record his third shutout in the last four matches. The shutout also marks the junior's fourth of the season and the 15tth of his career.
Princeton outshot the Blue and White 15-12 in the contest, but MU held a 7-4 advantage in shots on goal. The Tigers also held a 9-5 advantage on corner kicks.
The Blue and White placed four on the Princeton Invitational All-Tournament Team, including Kinne who earned Most Valuable Player honors. The junior led the Hawks with six points (two goals and two assists) on the weekend, including assisting on today's game-winner. The MU defense placed three on the team with Meredith, senior defender Daniel Bostock (Nottinghamshire, Eng./Virginia Intermont) and sophomore defender RJ Allen (Old Bridge, N.J./St. Joseph's) earning honors. The defense was stout this weekend, allowing one goal and only eight shots on goal in the two matches.
Monmouth, which also has now won seven straight matches for the first time in program history, returns to action Saturday when they visit #28 Loyola (Md.) at 1:00 pm.
