HAMDEN, CT – Monmouth University men's soccer senior forward
David Nigro (Marlboro, NJ/Marlboro) scored his team-leading fifth goal of the season, but the Hawks fell at Quinnipiac, 3-1, Saturday afternoon on QU Soccer Field. With the loss, the Hawks fall to 4-7-2 (3-3-0 MAAC), while the Bobcats improve to 9-5-0 (5-1-0 MAAC) with their first win over Monmouth since 2004.
The Bobcats got on the board first in the 21st minute, as freshman Eamon Whelan scored his eighth goal of the year, heading in a Ryan Scheiderman cross from the left. The lead grew to 2-0 in the 35th minute, when James Doig converted a penalty kick. The Hawks cut the deficit in half with Nigro's penalty kick in the 77th minute, but the Bobcats iced the game with Matthew Taylor's goal from 25 yards out on a free kick in the 84th minute.
QUOTES & NOTES
“We made a couple of costly mistakes and it's hard to come back on the road after making those mistakes. But fair play to Quinnipiac. They're a very good team and they did a good job securing the win.”
– Monmouth Head Coach Robert McCourt
- The goal was Nigro's team-leading fifth of the year and the 18th of his career. He's now scored five goals in each of the last three years.
- Junior goalkeeper
Chris Seager (Ocean Township, NJ/Ocean) got the start in net, his fifth of the year and his first since Sept. 10.
- Freshman back
Ryan Wells (Ocean Township, NJ/Ocean) got his first collegiate start on the Hawks' back line.
- The win was Quinnipiac's first over Monmouth since the 2004 season. The Hawks now lead the all-time series with the Bobcats, 13-4-4.
CRUNCHING THE NUMBERS
- Monmouth took a 10-8 edge in shots and a 7-6 advantage in shots on goal.
- The Hawks also took a 4-3 advantage in corner kicks.
- Seager made three saves, while Quinnipiac goalkeeper Chrysostomos Iakovidis made six saves.
- Quinnipiac was whistled for 11 fouls, while Monmouth was called for 9. Three yellow cards were issued to the Bobcats, while one went to the Hawks.
UP NEXT
The Hawks return to MAAC play Wednesday, when they play host to Fairfield. Kickoff from Hesse Field on The Great Lawn is slated for 7 p.m. on ESPN3.
