WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - The Monmouth University men's soccer team, ranked #12 in the latest NSCAA/HendrickCars.com National Top-25 Poll, defeated Saint Francis (Pa.), 2-1 in overtime in Northeast Conference action on Friday afternoon at The Great Lawn. The Hawks, unbeaten in their last seven matches, improve to 11-1-2 overall and 5-0-2 in the league, while the Red Flash fall to 9-5-1 and 5-2-1 in the conference.

With the win, MU takes over first place in the league with 17 points. The Hawks have three more regular season matches this year, including Sunday's Senior Day contest against Robert Morris on The Great Lawn at 1:30 pm.

With the match tied at 1-1 in overtime, MU was awarded a corner kick in the 99th minute. Senior captain Ryan Kinne (Naugatuck, Conn. /Naugatuck) took the corner and lofted a useful ball into the box, where junior Erkko Puranen (Viitasaari, Finland /Voionmaan Lukio {Rhode Island]) headed in the game-winner passed SFU keeper Daniel Valcicak. The goal is Puranen's fourth of the season, his initial campaign in West Long Branch, and his third game-winner of the year. Kinne's assist is his fourth of the season, which ties him for the team-lead.

"This was a big win against a conference rival, and it brings us one step closer to our ultimate goal," said Kinne. "We need to stay focused and continue to take it one game at a time, though."

The Hawks took the match's initial lead in the 35th minute when Kinne scored on a brilliant 25-yard free kick, his 11th goal of the season, establishing a new season-high for the Hermann Trophy candidate. The Red Flash was able to draw even in the match in the 83rd minute on a Tobi Iguade tally. 

Monmouth created positive goal-scoring opportunities all match long, outshooting the visitor's, 9-6 in the match, while each team had six corner kicks.

MU keeper and Hermann Trophy candidate Bryan Meredith (Scotch Plains, N.J. /Scotch Plains-Fanwood) made three saves to record the win, improving his career record to 41-6-8.