WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – Monmouth University men's soccer sophomore back Daniel Figarella (Wappingers Falls, NY/John Jay) scored the equalizer in the 50th minute, but Canisius answered with the  game-winning goal just 28 seconds later to defeat the Hawks, 2-1, Saturday night at Hesse Field on The Great Lawn. With the loss, the Hawks fall to 5-8-2 (4-4-0 MAAC), while the Griffs improve to 7-7-1 (3-3-1 MAAC). 

The Griffs immediately jumped out in front in the second minute, as Mathew Santos played a short corner to Melvin Blair. Blair then fed Mo Kretschmer deep inside the box at the right post, before Kretschmer went across the mouth of the goal inside the left post to give Canisius a 1-0 lead. 

A flurry in front produced the first Monmouth goal of the game in the 50th minute. Zachary Pereira (Rahway, NJ/St. Benedict's) put a shot on goal that Canisius goalkeeper Marco Trivellato made the initial save on. But Figarella streaked in to punch it back in for the equalizer. Just 28 seconds later, Blair shot from atop the 18-yard box off the left post and in for the game-winner. 

“It's difficult to lose a conference game at home. But I thought Canisius did a good job of taking advantage of some opportunities. I'm disappointed in a few areas of our game. But we've got to get them corrected and we have two more conference games. We've got to get those little moments corrected and hope to move forward.” – Monmouth Head Coach Robert McCourt

- The goal was the second of the year and the fifth of Figarella's career.

- Pereira now has three career assists, with one in each of the two meetings with Canisius over the past two years.

- Canisius evened the series with Monmouth at 2-2-0. Both teams have now won on their own home fields, as well as on the road. 

- The Hawks nearly tied the game in the 67th minute, when freshman Geoffrey Schaefer (Bridgeton, NJ/Woodstown) rocketed a shot off the right post.

- Monmouth was playing without its top two scorers. Leading scorer David Nigro (Marlboro, NJ/Marlboro) (5 goals, 5 assists) missed the game while serving a one-game suspension for a red card last time out, while Colin Stripling (Scotch Plains, NJ/Scotch Plains) (4 goals) hasn't played in the last three games due to injury.  

- Canisius outshot Monmouth, 13-10, including a 5-3 edge in shots on goal.

- Monmouth took six corner kicks to the Griffs' five.

- Trivellato made two saves in earning the victory, while Monmouth's Eric Klenofsky (Lincoln Park, NJ/DePaul Catholic) secured three saves.

- Monmouth was whistled for one more foul than Canisius (9-8), while both teams were shown a pair of yellow cards.

The Hawks return to MAAC play Wednesday, when they travel to Iona. Kickoff from New Rochelle is slated for 2 p.m.