MONMOUTH MEN'S SOCCER WEEKEND PREVIEW
Saturday, September 12, 2015
Monmouth (1-3-0) vs. Villanova (3-0-0)
Location: Hesse Field on The Great Lawn – West Long Branch, NJ
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m.
Live Video: None
Live Stats: www.MonmouthHawks.com
The Monmouth University men's soccer team continues a stretch of five of six games at home when it plays host to Villanova on Saturday. The Hawks erupted for five goals in a shutout of Howard on Sunday, while the Wildcats have also done their share of scoring with nine goals in three games, including a pair in a double-overtime triumph against Delaware this past Saturday.
BREAKING DOWN THE VILLANOVA WILDCATS
Villanova, ranked No. 25 in this week's Top Drawer Soccer College Soccer National Ranking and receiving votes in the NSCAA National Poll, is led by 6-foot-6 junior forward Padraic McCullaugh, who's scored four goals and distributed two assists so far this season in returning from knee injury that shortened his 2014 season. Max Kroschwitz had also contributed with two goals and two assists, while Sean Sheridan has also scored twice. Lucas Hodges rounds out the goal scorers, while Miguel Polley and Zach Zandi had dished out two assists apiece. Christopher Bared rounds out the point scorers for Villanova with an assist. Sophomore goalkeeper Will Steiner has played every minute in net for the Wildcats, posting a 1.28 goals-against average and a .750 save percentage.
OFFENSIVE ERUPTION
Monmouth's offense erupted for five goals in a 5-0 shutout of Howard on Sept. 6. Jalil Blalock scored twice en route to MAAC and ECAC Rookie of the Week honors, while Dave Nigro and John Egan both contributed with a goal and two assists. Zachary Pereira also scored his first-career goal, while Spencer Moeller, Derek Luke and Miguel Alves also tallied assists.
RUBBING ELBOWS WITH THE NATION'S BEST
A fixture in the national polls over the last several years, the Hawks opened the season at No. 21 in the Top Drawer Soccer Preseason Poll and receiving votes in the College Soccer News Preseason Top 30 Poll. Monmouth reached a program-high of the No. 4 ranking in 2010.
THE GOLD STANDARD
Monmouth Head Coach Robert McCourt's teams have won eight conference regular season titles in his 11 years directing the program and his peers have once again chosen his team to win the league in 2015. Included in the feat are five conference tournament championships in the last nine years and the accompanying NCAA Tournament berths.
PRESEASON HONORS
Eric Klenofsky was named the MAAC Preseason Player of the Year after leading the nation in goals-against average in each of the last two seasons. Derek Luke and Dave Nigro joined Klenofsky on the Preseason All-MAAC Team.
PLENTY BACK FOR THE HAWKS
What Monmouth lost in quality from the 2014 squad in All-MAAC performers Matt Jeffery, Dom Sarle and Emmanuel Senyah Agyemang, the Hawks make up for with eight starters returning. Klenofsky, David Acuna Camacho and Derek Luke lead a defense that led the nation in goals-against average (0.48) and save percentage (.883). Meanwhile Dave Nigro leads the offense having scored the game-winning goal in double overtime of the MAAC Championship to cap off a five-goal, three-assist campaign. Brandon McCarthy also returns after scoring three goals and adding an assist, while Luke came up from the back line to tally a team-best six assists. Andrew Gee came on late in the season to score twice and add an assist, while Miguel Alves scored a goal and handed out three assists. John Egan played a pivotal role in the midfield and added a goal and an assist.
ACCLAIMED INCOMING CLASS
College Soccer News ranked the Hawks' incoming class No. 22 in the country. Anderson Asiedu leads the group as a 2014 Top Drawer Soccer Fall High School All-America First Team and 2015 Top Drawer Soccer Preseason Best XI honoree, while Danny Figarella was named to the All-America Second Team. Asiedu, Figarella and Daniel Aversano were selected to the Top Drawer Soccer Fall All-East Region Team, while Chase Covello and Zachary Pereira joined Asiedu, Aversano and Figarella on their respective Top Drawer Soccer Fall All-State Teams. Also joining the Hawks this season are sophomore Memphis transfer Spencer Moeller and freshmen Jalil Blalock and Jassiem Wahtuse.
