WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - The Monmouth University men's soccer team scored
three goals in the first 33 minutes to beat Seton Hall, 3-0, in front of 1,370 Friday
night on The Great Lawn. Freshmen Andres Penfold (Scarsdale, N.Y./Scarsdale)
and Kalle Sotka (Helsinki, Finland/Makelanrinteen Sports H.S.) scored in the 12th
and 16th minutes, respectively, while sophomore Joseph Schmid
(Kingston, Pa./Wyoming Valley West [Villanova]) put the game away with a tally
in the 33rd minute. With the win, the Hawks improve to 4-1-0, while
the Pirates fall to 3-2-1.
Senior RJ Allen (Old Bridge,
N.J./St. Joseph's) contributed two assists, while Sotka and junior Ryan Clark
(Freehold, N.J./Freehold Township) also chipped in with one assist each. Junior
goalkeeper Alex Blackburn (Natick, Mass./Natick) and the Hawks' defense
completed their fourth clean sheet of the season, allowing just one Seton Hall
shot on net. Blackburn made one save. Meanwhile, the Hawks rifled off 16 shots,
eight of which forced Seton Hall goalie Kevin Bonder to make a play. Bonder
finished with five saves, while allowing three goals in defeat.
The Hawks dominated the first
half, outshooting the Pirates, 6-1. Five of the Hawks' six shots were on net, while
the Monmouth defense did not allow a shot on goal in the initial stanza. The
Hawks took three first-half corner kicks while not surrendering one to Seton
Hall. Things evened out in the second half, as both teams took 10 shots and
Seton Hall got three opportunities at corner kicks to the Hawks' two.
Penfold put away what proved
to be the game-winner just 11:56 into the match. Allen sent a cross to Sotka,
who played it on one touch to Penfold in the 18-yard box. Penfold went low
inside the far post for the score. Less than four minutes later, Clarke sent a
cross from the goal line that Sotka headed in from inside the six-yard box. At
32:05, Schmid contributed the knockout punch, unleashing a shot from the top of
the 18-yard box inside the right post.
The Hawks return to action Sunday,
when they play host to Bucknell. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. on The Great
Lawn.
