MONMOUTH MEN'S SOCCER PREVIEW

Wednesday, September 16, 2015
Monmouth (2-3-0, 0-0-0 MAAC) vs. Rutgers (2-2-0, 0-1-0 Big 10)
Location: Hesse Field on The Great Lawn – West Long Branch, NJ
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m.
Live Video: www.ESPN3.com
Live Stats: www.MonmouthHawks.com

The Monmouth University men's soccer team concludes a four-game home stand Wednesday night when it plays host to intrastate rival Rutgers on ESPN3. The Hawks are winners of two straight, including a 3-1 triumph over nationally-ranked Villanova on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Scarlet Knights have fallen in their last two matches at Syracuse and against Wisconsin following victories over Siena and Colgate to open the season. Rutgers' most-recent loss to Wisconsin came in heartbreaking fashion, with the Badgers' last-second shot hitting the underside of the crossbar, then the left post before deflecting into the net as time expired in double overtime. Though Rutgers owns an 11-1 lead in the all-time series, Monmouth took a decisive 3-0 victory last season in Piscataway.
 
BREAKING DOWN THE RUTGERS SCARLET KNIGHTS
Rutgers is led by Jason Wright and Miles Hackett, who've each scored twice and added an assist for five points apiece. Mitchell Taintor has added a goal and an assist, while Brian Hawkins and JP Correa have also tallied a goal apiece for the Scarlet Knights. Erik Sa leads Rutgers with two assists, while Mitch Lurie rounds out the Scarlet Knights' point scorers with an assist. David Greczek has played every minute in net for Rutgers, posting a 1.42 goals-against average and a .700 save percentage.

WILD(CAT) WIN
The Hawks defeated Villanova, 3-1, on Sept. 12. Anderson Asiedu scored his first-career goal off a Colin Stripling assist, before Miguel Alves scored the game-winning goal off a free kick to break a 1-1 tie in the 47th minute. John Egan's thru ball led to Andrew Gee's first goal of the year to put the game on ice in the 79th minute. Eric Klenofsky made a career-high seven saves en route to MAAC Defensive Player of the Week honors. Villanova entered the game ranked No. 25 in the Top Drawer Soccer National Rankings and receiving votes in the NSCAA National Poll.

EVERYBODY SCORES
Monmouth's nine goals this season have been scored by eight different players. Jalil Blalock scored twice against Howard, while John Egan, Dave Nigro, Colin Stripling, Miguel Alves, Anderson Asiedu, Zachary Pereira and Andrew Gee have all scored one goal each.

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.