NEWARK, N.J. - The Monmouth University men's soccer team came back to defeat the New Jersey Institute of Technology, 2-1 in nonconference action on Sunday afternoon in front of 600 at Lubetkin Field. After allowing a Highlander goal in the 19th minute, the Hawks scored consecutive tallies within 3:18 of each other late in the second half to come away with their second straight road win. Monmouth improves to 3-0 on the season with the win, while NJIT falls to 0-3.
"We got the just result today despite an early scare from NJIT," said MU head coach Robert McCourt. "We are coming off a very difficult stretch of three games in five days and I am happy with the way the guys responded to the early adversity."
NJIT took a first half lead with Rahim Stennett headed an Osvaldo Perez pass into the back of the net at the 18:42 mark. The Highlanders would take that 1-0 lead into halftime, even though Monmouth outshot the hosts 10-3 in the first 45 minutes.
It would take the Hawks until the 76th minute to tally the equalizer when freshman Alex Weidman (Linwood, N.J./Mainland Regional) beat NJIT keeper Ryan Sutherland for his first collegiate goal. After a Monmouth shot was blocked, the newcomer collected the rebound at the top of the 18, calmly picked up his head and slotted the ball in to the corner for the goal.
Just a shade over three minutes later, MU would receive the game-winner when senior captain Daniel Bostock (Nottinghamshire, England/Virginia Intermont) rose above a handful of Highlander defenders and headed the ball down into the net off a free kick from RJ Allen (Old Bridge, N.J./St. Joseph's) from 25 yards out. The goal is Bostock's second career tally and his first since November 4, 2007 when he scored in overtime at Saint Francis [Pa.] to clinch Monmouth's third straight NEC regular season title. The assist is Allen's second of the young season and the seventh of the sophomore's career.
The Blue and White outshot NJIT 21-9 in the game and held a 12-2 advantage on corner kicks. MU keeper Bryan Meredith (Scotch Plains, N.J./Scotch Plains-Fanwood) made one save to record the win.
The Hawks received contributions from a variety of players in the win as 10 players took shots and 16 saw action in the match.
MU returns to action on Friday, September 11 when they host Delaware on The Great Lawn at 3:00 pm.
