NEW BRITAIN, Conn. - The Monmouth University men's soccer team, ranked 10th in this week's NSCAA/HendrickCars.com National Top-25 Poll, opened Northeast Conference play with a 1-0 win over Central Connecticut State at Arute Field on Sunday afternoon. The Hawks improve to 7-1-0 overall on the season with the win, while the Blue Devils fall to 3-6 overall and 0-2 in the conference. The two league rivals met today on Central's football field.

The Hawks, who are ranked in the national top-10 for the fourth straight week, have now won nine of their last 10 NEC regular season matches. MU, which has now been ranked in the top-25 for 16 straight weeks dating back to last season, improves to 6-2-0 under McCourt against its league foe from New Britain.

"I thought the guys put forth a thorough performance today and played some very attractive soccer," said Monmouth head men's soccer coach Robert McCourt. "It was a top performance up and down and RJ scored a tremendous goal. This was an exceptional team performance and a great win on the road in a very difficult place to play."

The Blue and White received the match's lone tally in the 68th minute from versatile defender RJ Allen (Old Bridge, N.J. /St. Joseph's), the junior's first goal of the season. The maker is Allen's fourth career goal and the second game-winner of his career. Senior captain Chase Barbieri (Hillsborough, N.J. /Hillsborough) was credited with the assist on the play, his first of the year and the fourth of his career.

MU controlled the match's tempo throughout, outshooting Central, 10-3 in the match. The Hawks also had four corner kicks, compared to one for the hosts.

Senior Hermann Trophy candidate Bryan Meredith (Scotch Plains, N.J. /Scotch Plains-Fanwood) made a save in the win, marking his fourth clean sheet of the season and the 29th of the keeper's career.

The Hawks return to action on Friday, October 8 when they host Fairleigh Dickinson on The Great Lawn at 3:00 pm in one of the league's most fierce rivalries.