WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – Colin Stripling (Scotch Plains, NJ/Scotch Plains Fanwood) scored his team-leading fifth and sixth goals of the season, the latter serving as the game winner, as the Monmouth University men's soccer team defeated Niagara, 5-3, Saturday night on Hesse Field. With the win, the Hawks (11-3-3, 7-0-2 MAAC) clinched the MAAC Regular Season Championship and the top seed in the upcoming MAAC Championships, Nov. 5-9 at Disney's Wide World of Sports in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. The championship is the 11th in program history and the ninth for the Hawks under Head Coach Robert McCourt. Monmouth, which ran its unbeaten streak to 14 games (11-0-3), has also won the MAAC Regular Season Championship twice in three years in the league. The Purple Eagles fall to 1-13-3 (0-7-1 MAAC) with the loss.

"It's another regular season championship," said McCourt. "We won one in our first year in the MAAC. We won the MAAC Tournament last year and won the regular season this year. So I'm really excited for and proud of the guys. They've worked their butts off the whole season so far and they deserve it."

Seniors John Egan (Smithtown, NY/Hauppauge) and Derek Luke (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan) connected on a goal in the 14th minute, with Egan finishing Luke's assist, before Luke added a second assist on Zachary Pereira's (Rahway, NJ/St. Benedict's) goal off a corner in the 65th minute. Dave Nigro (Marlboro, NJ/Marlboro) also added his fifth goal of the year in the 29th minute.

After Niagara struck first with a Sergio Lujan goal in the 7th minute, the seniors connected for the equalizer in the 14th minute on Senior Night. Luke played the ball into the box to Egan, who beat Niagara goalkeeper Colin Hanley one-on-one from 10 yards out inside the right post.

Stripling gave Monmouth's its first lead of the game. He collected the rebound of his own blocked shot and his second attempt got past Hanley and into the net in the 25th minute. Just 4:33 later, Nigro dribbled through traffic in the box and went high to the opposite upper 90 to stake Monmouth to a 3-1 lead.

Niagara wouldn't go away, however, as Lujan scored his second goal of the game in the 49th minute. Steve Pondeca played the ball to the goal line left, before crossing to Lujan in front for the finish.

Monmouth again created some breathing room when Stripling scored what proved to be the game winner. Stripling's initial header off a cross hit the crossbar, but before the ball could hit the ground, Stripling sent another header into the net past new Niagara keeper Joel Gerberich.

The Purple Eagles responded in the 60th minute off a strong individual effort from Alex Dimitriu. The freshman played the ball right toward the top of the 18-yard box and unleashed a low shot inside the far post to cut the Monmouth lead to 4-3.

But just over five minutes later, Monmouth again answered. Luke sent a left-footed corner to the far post, where Pereira went high for the header, giving the Hawks a 5-3 lead.

For the game, the Hawks outshot Niagara, 16-5, while also taking a 6-1 advantage in corner kicks.

Following a Wednesday idle date within MAAC play, the Hawks wrap up the regular season next Saturday, Oct. 31, at Marist. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.