All-Time Series: MU, 13-3-4 (Last meeting: MU, 3-1 – Oct. 10, 2015)

Location: QU Soccer Field – Hamden, CT

Kickoff: 2 p.m.

Live Video: QuinnipiacBobcats.com

Live Stats: QuinnipiacBobcats.com

The Monmouth University men's soccer team resumes MAAC play Saturday afternoon when it travels to Quinnipiac. The Hawks had won two straight and four of five prior to a Wednesday setback at Siena, 2-1. Meanwhile, the Bobcats have won four straight following a MAAC-opening loss to Niagara. QU has defeated Manhattan, Marist, Canisius and Iona in the stretch. 

The Bobcats are led by freshman Eamon Whelan, who's scored seven goals already this season. Ryan Scheiderman has added four goals and two assists, while James Doig has two goals and three assists. Conor McCoy has scored twice and added an assist, while Rashawn Dally has tied Doig for the team lead in assists with three to go along with one goal. William Pustari has also scored twice, while Max Rothenbuecher and Liam O'Sullivan have chipped in with two assists apiece. Chrysostomos Iakovidis has seen the majority of time in goal for the Bobcats, posting a 0.73 goals-against average and a .849 save percentage.     

Monmouth owns a 13-3-4 advantage in the all-time series against Quinnipiac, including a 13-game unbeaten streak against the Bobcats. Monmouth won last year's meeting, 3-1, on Hesse Field. Prior to that triumph, the Hawks and Bobcats had played 220-plus minutes scoreless against each other over two prior meetings, including a scoreless draw in the 2013 MAAC Championship Game. The Bobcats advanced on PK's. The two teams also met in the 2009 Northeast Conference Championship Game, with Monmouth taking a 2-1 victory. The last Monmouth loss to Quinnipiac came in 2004, Head Coach Robert McCourt's first year with the Hawks.  

Sophomore back Zachary Pereira scored his first goal of the year, Oct. 12 at Siena. The goal, poked in off the rebound of a Miguel Alves free kick, equalized the contest. Pereira scored four times as a freshman in 2015. 

Eric Klenofsky and David Nigro were named MAAC Defensive and Offensive Players of the Week, respectively, on Oct. 10. Klenofsky and the Hawks' defense posted a pair of clean sheets and Nigro had a goal and an assist in a pair of 1-0 victories over Rider and Niagara to push Monmouth to the top of the league standings. The honors were the second of the year for both student-athletes, with Klenofsky earning the recognition for the 11th time in his career and Nigro taking his second award.

With the Hawks' 2-1 win in double overtime at Manhattan on Oct. 21, 2015, goalkeeper Eric Klenofsky moved into sole possession of second place all-time in the MAAC with 28 career victories in net. Klenofsky, who now stands at 34 career wins, moved past Niagara's John Fiutowski (2006-09) and only Iona's Nils Binstock (2006-09) remains ahead of the Hawks' senior goalkeeper with 38 career wins. 

Senior goalkeeper Eric Klenofsky has made his mark on the Hawks' program over the past four years and his absence due to injury for six non-league games covering a month was felt. Since arriving on campus, the Hawks have posted a 34-11-15 record in games started by Klenofsky. In games started by anyone else, Monmouth is 2-9-3. Klenofsky returned to the line-up on Sept. 27 vs. Manhattan. 

With their 1-0 win over then-No. 30 Rider on Oct. 5, the Hawks are 1-0-1 against ranked teams this season. Monmouth also played then-No. 15 Denver to a 1-1 draw in the season opener on Aug. 26.  

Sophomore back Daniel Figarella scored his fourth career goal for the game-winner against Rider on Oct. 5. Three of Figarella's four goals have come against the Broncs, with the third being the charm. The Hawks played Rider to a 1-1 draw last regular season in Lawrenceville, before falling, 3-2, in the MAAC Championship Game at ESPN's Wide World of Sports Complex.  
STRIP SCORES TWO

Colin Stripling scored both goals in the Hawks' 2-0 conference-opening win over Manhattan on Sept. 27. The senior midfielder streaked in for the rebound of a saved penalty kick in the 6th minute before finishing a David Nigro feed from the top of the 18-yard box in the 29th minute for what proved to be the game winner. 

Michael Luke scored his first career goal for the game winner at Howard on Sept. 17. Luke followed in his brother, Derek's, footsteps, as the elder Luke's first career goal also came as a game-winner in a 1-0 victory (Sept. 22, 2011 at Columbia) early in his freshman year. 

David Nigro matched his career-best of five points in a single game on Sept. 14 vs. Columbia. The senior forward scored twice and added an assist, matching his output vs. UMass Lowell in the 2014 season opener. 

Junior midfielder Jake Areman, a Maryland transfer, scored his first goal as a Hawk and added an assist against Columbia on Sept. 14. The three-point output matched Areman's one-goal, one-assist effort for the Terps last season in a victory over St. John's. 

Freshman Geoffrey Schaefer responded well to increased playing time, developing several offensive chances and assisting on David Nigro's goal at UMBC on Sept. 10 for his first collegiate point.

Sophomore forward Jalil Blalock, whose signature goal celebration is a back flip, scored his first goal of the season on Sept. 1 at Hartford. Blalock received a feed from Dave Nigro in the middle of the 18-yard box and went inside the right post for the score, his third-career goal.  

Colin Stripling led the Hawks with six goals a year ago and began this season in the same way. The senior midfielder deposited the ball in the back of the net on a penalty kick in the 37th minute against Denver as the Hawks and Pioneers played to a 1-1 draw. He then added his second goal at UMBC, equalizing at 2-2 in the 54th minute.

A fixture in the national polls over the last several years, the Hawks were ranked No. 30 in the College Soccer News Preseason Top 30 to earn a national ranking for the 11th straight season. The Hawks also received votes in the poll's second week. Monmouth reached a program-high of the No. 4 ranking in 2010.

Winners of two of the last three MAAC Regular Season Championships, Monmouth was selected by the league's coaches to win the title once again in 2016. In addition, five Hawks comprised the 11-member Preseason All-MAAC Team. Goalkeeper Eric Klenofsky was named the Preseason Player of the Year, while Anderson Asiedu, David Nigro, Zachary Pereira and Colin Stripling were also named among the top players in the league.     

Sophomore Anderson Asiedu was named to the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List, becoming the first sophomore and the 10th Hawk in Head Coach Robert McCourt's tenure to garner the honor. Asiedu joined Joseph Schmid (2013), Ryan Clark (2012), RJ Allen (2011), Max Hamilton (2011), Anthony Vazquez (2011), Ryan Kinne (2009, 2010), Bryan Meredith (2010), Chase Barbieri (2009) and Tom Gray (2007) among Monmouth players to earn the recognition.

Monmouth Head Coach Robert McCourt's teams have won nine conference regular season titles in his 12 years directing the program. Included in the Hawks' run of success are five conference tournament championships in the last 10 years and the accompanying NCAA Tournament berths.

Monmouth returns the scorers of 30 of their 41 goals from a year ago, led by leading scorer Colin Stripling (6). Stripling also had five assists to lead the team with 17 points. David Nigro and Miguel Alves also scored five goals apiece, while Zachary Pereira came on strong to score four goals from the back line. Danny Figarella and Andrew Gee chipped in with three goals each, while Anderson Asiedu and Jalil Blalock scored twice each. Along with Pereira, center back Joey Gudzak helped stabilize the Hawks' back line and 2015 MAAC Goalkeeper of the Year Eric Klenofsky is back for his fourth season as the last line of defense. 

Monmouth's newcomers include some exciting prospects, including Maryland transfer Jake Areman and 2015 Gatorade New Jersey Boys Soccer Player of the Year John Antunes. The back line lost Derek Luke, but brings a familiar look in Luke's brother, Michael, who will fill Derek's role. Fellow freshman Andy Martinez also looks to fill a pivotal role as a center back. Jacob Curtis, Colin Muller, Geoffrey Schaefer and Ryan Wells will also vie for minutes in their first year in the Blue & White.