WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - Junior midfielder Ryan Clark (Freehold,
N.J./Freehold Township) dished out three assists and George Quintano
(Manalapan, N.J./Manalapan) scored two goals as the Monmouth University men's
soccer team coasted past Long Island, 4-0, in the Hawks' Northeast Conference
opener. With the win, the Hawks (7-2-0, 1-0-0 NEC) move to 24-2-7 in NEC home
games in Head Coach Robert McCourt's eight years. The Blackbirds fall to 2-5-2
(0-1-0 NEC).
Matt Jeffery (Freehold, N.J./Freehold Township) also scored his first-career
goal, while Joseph Schmid (Kingston, Pa./Wyoming Valley West [Villanova]) added
his second goal of the year. Andres Penfold (Scarsdale, N.Y./Scarsdale) and
Kevin Davis (Blackwood, N.J./Highland Regional [Loyola (Md.)]) also added
assists. Junior goalkeeper Alex Blackburn (Natick, Mass./Natick) made two saves
to complete his sixth shutout of the season.
Jeffery got the scoring
started in the 22nd minute, heading in a corner that Clark sent into
the six-yard box. In the 25th minute, Clark played the ball behind
him to beat his defender in the midfield before dishing off to Schmid for the shot
from inside the 18-yard box. Quintano completed the first-half scoring in the 42nd
minute with a header off another Clark corner. Davis played the corner on one
touch to Quintano who headed it into the net. Quintano capped the Hawks'
scoring, heading in a Penfold pass at the goal mouth in the 53rd
minute.
For the game, the Hawks outshot the Blackbirds, 13-6, while taking four corners
to the Blackbirds' one.
The Hawks return to NEC action Sunday, when they play host to Central
Connecticut State University. Kickoff is scheduled for noon.
