Box Score FAIRFIELD, CT – The Monmouth University men's soccer team outshot Fairfield, 12-7, including an 8-1 edge in shots on goal, but came away with a scoreless tie Saturday night on Lessing Field. With the draw, the Hawks (9-3-3, 5-0-2 MAAC) push their unbeaten streak to 12 games (9-0-3). Fairfield is now 4-4-5 (3-2-1 MAAC).
“The boys played very well tonight,” said Monmouth Head Coach
Robert McCourt. “We had some very good possession against a tough MAAC opponent. We also created some very good scoring chances on the road.”
Fairfield's Matt Turner made eight saves to complete the clean sheet, while the Hawks'
Eric Klenofsky (Lincoln Park, NJ/DePaul Catholic) made one save in a shutout of his own - his seventh of the season and the 28th of his career.
The first half featured few solid chances either way, with Monmouth taking a 5-3 edge in shots and a 2-0 advantage in shots on goal.
Anderson Asiedu (Dormaa Ahenkro, Ghana/St. Benedict's) sent a shot on goal from 25 yards out in the 11th minute that Turner saved, before
Jalil Blalock (Elizabeth, NJ/Elizabeth) sent a shot just wide of the left post in the 22nd minute.
Fairfield's Dominic Marshall hit the crossbar in the 39th minute, while
Derek Luke's (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan) shot was saved in the 41st minute.
Monmouth dominated the second half, forcing Turner to make five saves.
Colin Stripling (Scotch Plains, NJ/Scotch Plains Fanwood) put a low shot on net from inside of 15 yards at the top, right corner of the box, but Turner made the save in the 46th minute. Fairfield's Steven Valente put the Stags' only shot on goal of the evening in the 56th minute, but Klenofsky dove to his right to make the stop.
Asiedu,
Miguel Alves (Newark, NJ/St. Benedict's) and Stripling sent shots on goal in the 59th, 62nd and 68th minutes, respectively, but the Stags' keeper made the stop each time. Asiedu put one more shot on Turner in the 85th minute before the game went to overtime.
Dave Nigro (Marlboro, NJ/Marlboro) got the ball in the box and, though defended by two Fairfield backs, got a shot off. However, Turner was again there for the save. Fairfield created a dangerous opportunity in the 95th minute, but a cross through the box went harmlessly out of bounds. Neither team could get much going in the way of offense in the second overtime, as neither team logged a shot.
The Hawks return to action Wednesday, when they travel to Manhattan. Kickoff from Riverdale, NY, is slated for 7 p.m.
